Free Drinks All Around! [Sya/Maddy/Kassie]

[Rii <3]

It seemed the barmaid was greatly thankful when she rushed in dawn of the night after hearing commotion outside. Her eyes flickered between the three Mages before dropping to the three bodies on the floor. "I hope that's not permanent!"
With that said, she examined them closely before clasping her hands together with a gasp. "Oh! Kasumi, you did the mission I was asking around for the other day? Thank you! And... My oh my, it seems that the people you brought aren't in this guild..." With that said, she moved her arm around Syana and pulled her close.

Syana stood there confused with this woman's arm slung around her name. She looked up at her in confusion before pressing her hand to the girls with an awkward smile.
She looked towards Maddox and Kasumi with a look that said; I don't know who this girl is. She shifted her gaze up to the lady who gave her an awkward smile and she returned it. 
"So Kasumi, is that your boyfriend?" She asked, looking towards Maddox and then shifting her gaze towards Kasumi before looking down to Syana.
"Cute couple, huh?" Syana blinked, looking between the two and nodding her head swiftly.  

"So free alcohol, huh?" The barmaids eyes looked around. "Okay, why not? It's still dark so nobody will be here until morning. All yours." She moved towards the bar, her arm leaving Syana's shoulders and she grabbed a bottle of alcohol, pouring it into a glass. "Little missy in the cloak and hood, try this." With that said, Syana found herself trying a glass of alcohol before coughing and wiping her lips. 
"Strong, right?"
Syana's eyes dropped towards the floor where the people are.
"What about them?"  

[Jimmydalad]

To Kasumi, it was all a bit of a blur as Nina rushed in. Apparently she had heard the commotion and was now fussing about. Kasumi chuckled at Nina's question, flashing a cheeky grin at a familiar face.

"Nah, they were just trying to steal your alcohol. Obviously we taught them a lesson." Kasumi announced confidently. From there, she let Nina do her thing. There was an energy about her that Kasumi couldn't help but find rejuvenating. For whatever reason, she was very good at getting other people happy as well as getting other people to drink. Maybe that's why she was given the job.

"Yeah, I met them in Onibas. Maddox, Syana, this is Nina. She recently took over the bar in Fairy Tail" She tried to suppress a chuckle as she watched Syana be overwhelmed by the barmaid. By now Kasumi had gotten used to Nina's ways and she could be relied upon to be a friendly face.

"W-what!? No!" Kasumi spluttered, taken off guard by the question and blushing. Seeing Syana nod her head caused her to glare exasperatedly at her, turning towards Maddox while shaking her head. "Don't listen to her! She's always teasing people like that!" Kasumi exclaimed, her cheeks a violent red as she tried to regain her composure.

At the sound of free alcohol, Kasumi rushed to the counter. She did enjoy drinking at the bar moreso because it allowed her to meet new people and hear stories or events happening on the outside. Unfortunately, Kasumi sometimes got carried away with drinking, mostly in an attempt to keep up or impress others. Still, she intended to make the most of the opportunity, taking a drink from Nina after she had served Syana.

"You leave that to me. After I serve the first drinks, I'll take them to the authorities and leave them outside. Serves them right." Nina declared, looking indignantly at the three would-be thieves. If there was one thing Kasumi knew about Nina, it would be that she did not tolerate anyone messing with her alcohol.

Kasumi took a hearty swig of beer, the bitter taste refreshing her as she turned to Maddox and beckoned him over. This may be the best chance for her to see the two of them drunk, since the alcohol was free.

[Maddox Aquila]

A whirlwind that was apparently the bartender swept through the guild, drawing Syana close to her and spouting off half assed assumptions that stirred up a fuss.

Anyways, why didn't this woman assume that Syana was his girlfriend? AND WHY DID SYANA NOD TO HER QUESTION? Feeling a bit put off, Maddox bowed his head lightly to Kasumi's hurried, embarrassed, apology. "It's alright, Miss Ito... I'm sure she means well." The last part of his statement was spoken in a completely bland tone that suggested he didn't really care for baseless assumptions - but then, he was a bit miffed that no one assumed Syana was his girlfriend.

SERIOUSLY THOUGH, WHY DID SHE NOD?

Wait, was she trying to hook him up with her friend?

No, no. That couldn't be it. The Syana he knew was too oblivious for that...

Then again, three years had passed and a lot had changed.

Did Kasumi react so harshly to the suggestion because she was actually interested in him? His half lidded green eye slid towards the girl in question as he mulled the thought over just long enough for the bartender to give Syana some alcohol and for her to drink it, apparently.

"Ah, Syana... Don't take drinks from strangers so easily... Especially men, for future reference." Yes, that would probably be dangerous. Exhaling a little in defeat, he wandered over after Kasumi beckoned to him and took a seat at the bar - ordering himself a shot glass and a bottle of whiskey that was a tad on the expensive side.

[Rii <3]

"W-what!? No! Don't listen to her! She's always teasing people like that!"
Syana's eyes dashed between the two as they got really flustered over the idle comment about the couple and Syana's eyes moved towards Maddox, watching him and realising the quick change in his mood. A part of her grew curious, but as quickly as his mood had changed, it had gone. Syana stood there watching him with confusion before moving her gaze back over towards Kasumi; smiling warmly. Kasumi always reacted the best and Syana couldn't help but realise that even if she knew the girl for three days - they were already growing close. Syana's eyes moved to Maddox once more and she began to reminisce in the brief time that they had spent together before. Syo had been with her after and she spent most of her time under his  wing, but now she had spread her own wings and was showing individuality while reuniting with her older friend.

Syana felt the sensation of the barmaid leave her shoulders and the two were talking. Syana found herself looking over at the group of people that they had successfully captured and who were all tied up. She looked up at the lights, relieved that they had been turned on. As she moved over towards the stools, she was given the taste of some alcohol to which she didn't quite understand why it tasted so peculiar and bitter. 
"Ah, Syana... Don't take drinks from strangers so easily... Especially men, for future reference." Maddox warned her and the light Mage found herself questioning the older one for a few seconds longer. Kasumi beckoned him over and sat himself down with a whiskey. She looked it over, taking it briefly from him and pouring it into the glass he had too. In one swift motion, she chugged it before coughing and spluttering and sticking her tongue out. Her eyes closed tightly and she found herself with a burning sensation in the back of her throat.
"That was not expected..." She managed to rasp out while holding her neck. She looked towards the alcohol in desperation for something that would remove the burning sensation, but her eyes fell upon a liquor that was given the name "Deadly Sweet".

Syana lifted her hands towards the bottle, but they were hit away and a shot glass was place in front of her. Watching the shot get poured, Syana poked it desperately.
It's so small..." The look that Nina gave her was enough to say that she probably shouldn't complain, but Syana lifted the thick substance and placed it in her mouth before swallowing. She sat there for a few seconds and her eyes looked around as the place seemed to shiver and shimmer slightly, face stung red and her eyes looking towards Kasumi and Maddox.
"Don't drink this stuff... It makes you... It makes you... I don't know why but I feel like I should warn you about it... I don't feel so good..." Syana shifted closer towards Kasumi and pressed her cheek to the girls with a warm, flustered smile on her face.
"I think you and I will be bessstt friends soon...hic!" With a hiccup, Syana covered her mouth and giggled to herself before staggering back to her own stool. 
"Maddohxsh... Maddoh.. Maddy, your name suddenly became really hard to say... I really like your coat... That'sh all!" 

[Jimmydalad]

Once she had served everyone their drinks, Nina went over towards the thieves and picked them up, holding them by the restraints on their hands. From there, she promptly marched off, but not before shooting Kasumi a mischievous wink. Rolling her eyes, Kasumi went back to focusing on her drink, hoping that she could just drink away the embarrassment that she had just experienced.

Kasumi looked towards Maddox and Syana. Something she had noticed was how Maddox kept on giving advice and caring for Syana. He even did it just now, when Syana accepted a drink from Nina. Had Syana drunk alcohol before? In her mind, Kasumi found it very hard to form the mental image of Syana doing anything like drinking. Apparently her suspicions were correct as a shot and some alcohol were all it really took for Syana.

"Haha, yeah." Kasumi said awkwardly, trying to go along with Syana's drunken shenanigans. That statement did cause Kasumi to recognize that they had done a lot together in a short period of time. In a way, she found it hard to imagine what it would be like when Syana left, considering she wasn't a member of Fairy Tail.

Jumping over the bar, she poured out a pint of cider for herself, taking a swig from it as she turned towards Maddox. Syana's antics were hilarious if nothing else and Kasumi found it hard to not laugh at drunk Syana's actions. If she had to be fair though, that probably would be her after a pint or two.

"You two seem to have known each other for quite some time." Kasumi started, taking a drink while still behind the bar. "How do you guys know each other, if you don't mind me asking?"

[Maddox Aquila]

Despite his warning, Syana saw fit to drink some more random alcohol, causing Maddox to sigh a little in frustration. Watching as she imposed herself on Kasumi's personal space, he downed his first shot and rolled his head slightly to crack his neck.

He supposed, as long as he was there to watch over her, everything would be alright...

As she stumbled over his name, he couldn't help but chuckle deep in his throat. He had to admit that being called something besides his full name made his heart flutter erratically for a second - at least when Syana said it.

"Mn, would you like to wear my coat for a while, little bird?" He idly offered, soon allowing his eye to drift towards Kasumi. At her question he poured himself another shot before speaking up. "Well, as simple as it sounds, I found her sitting on a bench. She seemed unhappy, I felt compelled to sit with her." He admitted. Truth be told he still wasn't sure what had made him want to do that at the time. It wasn't like he was a white knight on a shining steed that swooped in to save the hopeless.

Clearing his throat with a swallow of whiskey that brought a flush to his pale cheeks, he continued. "I taught her a bit of magic, even joined Fairy Tail with her."

And yet three years passed and he still hadn't managed to make an progress towards making her his own.

Damn that Syo, damn him to hell!

The third shot went down easily, the nerves in his throat long dead.

[Rii <3]

Syana soon found herself regretting the taste of alcohol to the point she kept her tongue stuck out like a rod that would conduct the cold air and keep her mouth cool. She began to brush up against Maddox, idly complimenting his coat and holding onto it between her two fingers; giving a soft tug.
"Mn, would you like to wear my coat for a while, little bird?" He asked her and Syana felt like a world of sweets just opened up before her. Her eyes widened and she found herself gasping before tugging more at his coat as he moved his attention towards Kasumi. Syana's fingers rubbed and pinched his coat. She hadn't really paid much attention to what Kasumi said, but it seemed like she could pinpoint easily what it was entirely just by the words that left Maddy's lips.
"Well, as simple as it sounds, I found her sitting on a bench. She seemed unhappy, I felt compelled to sit with her."  He explained and Syana pressed a finger to her lips.

"Ish that how it went?" She asked through a drunken slur, looking towards Kasumi. "I always thought he saw me in a shweet shop and...hic! He wanted my shweets sho we shared and then he left..." Syana trailed off before shaking her head. "Wait... Wash that with Sheo?" She scratched her head vigorously before shrugging, her arms soon slinging around Maddox's shoulders and grinning widely. "I don't care, though because he's jusht sho cuddly! Kasssssiiieee! Come cuddle too!" Syana laughed while hugging the boy tightly she found herself laughing to herself at the warmth of his body and moving an arm towards Kasumi, leaning over awkwardly before grabbing and pulling her into the embrace.
"I love you guysh!"

[Jimmydalad]

An amused smirk appeared on Kasumi's face as she watched Maddox dote on Syana. It would take a complete idiot not to notice Maddox's affections for Syana. While she wasn't going to play matchmaker with those two, she decided she would take pleasure from watching the relationship bloom. She found herself drinking more, pouring herself some vodka and shotting it, wincing as she forced it down her throat.

She listened to Maddox's simple story, pouring out some more cider for herself and slowly drinking it. Her time in Fairy Tail did give her a stronger alcohol tolerance than she had when she entered. Normally, it was a bit of a mixed blessing since it costed more for her to get drunk but allowed her to not be a complete drunken mess the entire time. Since the alcohol was free flow though, she allowed herself to have a bit more fun. At the mention of Maddox and Syana being former members of Fairy Tail, Kasumi raised her right eyebrow in surprise

Before she had a time to further inquire about it, Syana flew into a drunken slur she assumed was her trying to talk. It took her a moment to get into the swing of things, but Kasumi managed to pick up on what Syana was trying to say. She laughed loudly as she was suddenly pulled into an embrace, finding the situation hilarious while not really sure what to do about it.

"I love you too Syana." Kasumi responded amidst giggling and drinking more from her bottle. She managed to slip out of the hug, wobbling a bit on the floor as she got her bearings straight. Finishing her drink, she poured herself more cider, knowing that she probably was going to hate herself when she woke up the next day.

"Hey!" Kasumi called out loudly, attempting to attract the attention of the two of them. "Why did you not tell me you used to be in Fairy Tail and why did you leave? I never saw you around when I joined." She thought she might as well. Not like it was a harmful question or anything. She took a hearty swig from her glass, eyes lingering on the other two.

[Maddox Aquila]

Slipping out of his coat, he brought it up, resting it along Syana's shoulders, assuming the drunken girl stayed still long enough for him to. Even without her arms in the sleeves, the jacket looked comically large on her small body. A fondness shone in his eyes as he watched her intently.

Maddox's expression soured somewhat at the mention of Syo, his love rival who he kind of hoped fell off the face of the planet. Well. 'Kind of' was an understatement, but -

Syana suddenly threw her arms around him, drawing their bodies close. Somehow the simple gesture addled his mind for a few long moments and he found himself fighting to process the sensation of being held against her in such a way. After a few long moments, he managed to reign in his thoughts and brought one of his large hands up to caress her hair and pat her head in reply.

He had never told anyone that he loved them, it wasn't a word he threw around easily and it definitely wasn't something he wanted to declare while she were intoxicated. He doubted she would understand the depths of his feelings when sober, let alone under the influence.

A sad thought, but Kasumi was kind enough to distract him with a question.

"Mn, well. It never really came up." Maddox answered, watching the red head wobbling on her legs. Realizing he probably had his hands full with the two of them, he kept a close watch on them out of some faint hope that he could summon a shadow to catch them, should they fall.

"When my sister vanished, I decided it best I leave the guild to look for her. It was not a decision I took lightly, but I had no idea when, of if, I would return." Plus, he never really felt he terribly fit into Fairy Tail, anyways.

[Rii <3]

"I love you too Syana." Kasumi replied and Syana grinned widely at this response before the two hugging and  including Maddox who just petted her head and she smiled warmly as he did. It was nice hearing her friends say that and Syana blinked her eyes gratefully towards the smaller girl.

"Hey! Why did you not tell me you used to be in Fairy Tail and why did you leave? I never saw you around when I joined."  Syana's eyes focused on her, despite the fact Syana felt like Kasumi was a reflection in the water that a stone had popped into and caused a wave-like motion. Syana's eyes felt heavy and she felt sick, but not nauseous to the point she'd be sick. She found herself smiling widely as a bubbly feeling erupted in her tummy, her arms still around Maddox and his coat draped over her; her green eyes on Kasumi as she processed what she said.
"When my sister vanished, I decided it best I leave the guild to look for her. It was not a decision I took lightly, but I had no idea when, of if, I would return." Maddox explained and Syana found herself puzzling over it. She stood there, her arms slowly unwrapping themselves from his neck and her eyes were solely focused on the dear girl in front of her.
"Why did I not tell you?" She cocked her head and for a brief moment she looked like she had sobered before shrugging her shoulders and heaving a sigh. "I completely forgot I was a part of that guild!" She giggled, covering her mouth with her fingers. "I jusht spent three yearsh with Sheo." With that said, she plodded along with a heavy stagger and a staff guiding her footsteps before plopping down on the bar and swinging her legs side to side while spinning around slightly. 
"Can I have something shweet but thick? Like shirup!" She trilled, watching as the glass slid over to her. Picking it up, she tipped it and drank before coughing and spluttering with a surprise.

"Too thick. Too strong." She stuck her tongue out once again like the child she felt like, a disgusted expression on her face and she wiped the tears from her eyes with a disturbed expression painted on. "Don't drink that stuffs. Not nice. Too thick. Too shtrong. No."

[Jimmydalad]

Kasumi expected a much more interesting answer than what she got. A part of her wanted to hear about some super dramatic moment or something of the like, but instead the answer seemed a bit mundane. While Maddox's made some sense, considering Riley was his sister, Syana mentioned about a person named Syo. Kasumi felt a little uneasy about how Syana had no idea that she even used to be in Fairy Tail. Just how unaware of reality was Syana?

Frowning in disappointment, Kasumi poured Syana a drink and passed it over to her. At this point, Kasumi was just picking up random drinks and wasn't really paying attention to what was in them. Whatever she poured caused Syana to react with great disgust. Putting the drink away, Kasumi made a mental note not to drink it as she finished her cider. Since she was getting herself a drink, she looked around and found some rum. Making herself a Cuba Libre, she continued to frown.

"I was hoping for something more dramatic." She muttered quietly to herself, finishing pouring the drink before taking a sip. Scrunching her face, Kasumi realized that she probably messed up the proportions of the drink slightly. Not wanting to bother remixing, she continued to drink.

"I wished Riley never disappeared." Kasumi suddenly said, taking another drink from her Cuba Libre. "If she hadn't disappeared, Griffin Wing would've still been here." It was a pattern of thinking that she couldn't help falling into. Riley had been the crux of Griffin Wing. In a way, she typified what the guild was all about. Though it wasn't her fault, Riley's disappearance was the catalyst for her life going to shit.

"Why would she do that? Why wasn't she more careful?!" Kasumi couldn't help herself. Her words were starting to slur and she felt a few tears form in her eyes. She took another drink, hoping that the drink would be able to soothe her emotions. She tried to rub away at the tears, staggering around a bit as she held onto the bar.

[Maddox Aquila]

Maddox's heart just about killed itself when Syana admitted that she had spent the last three years with Syo. A sense of dread washed over him and he tried to wash it away with a swallow of alcohol, but it still left a bad taste in his mouth.

Kasumi followed up by lamenting about his sister, further souring his mood. He felt a pang of guilt knowing that he had abandoned his younger sister to the disease ridden city of Onibas, and he spent a few long moments staring into his empty glass, with Kasumi's ranting filling up the background.

"Riley ran from a guild once before, but I do not believe for a second that she left Griffin Wing willingly." He firmly insisted, glancing to the redhead as she started to well up, he kind of had a hard time feeling for her given his current mood.

"I do not know where she had been, but I know that it would have taken a great force to keep her from returning. They were her family. I can only imagine how devastated she must have been when she found out what happened..." His voice trailed off with a sigh as he filled his glass and drank it in the same breath.

[Rii <3]

"I wished Riley never disappeared. If she hadn't disappeared, Griffin Wing would've still been here." Kasumi's voice caused Syana to draw attention to the girl, blinking her  eyes at the sudden words, Syana's gaze looked towards the floor. She honestly never was aware of the disappearance of Riley or the disappearance of Griffin Wing. She usually spent most of her time in the house training and relaxing and working. She had withdrawn from the guild just so she could train and work. She found herself shuffling a little on the spot as she thought it through, a drunken hiccup bubbling in her throat before causing her to hiccup.

"I do not know where she had been, but I know that it would have taken a great force to keep her from returning. They were her family. I can only imagine how devastated she must have been when she found out what happened..." Maddox replied to Kasumi. Syana knew nothing of the other guilds and all she knew was many disbanded due to the lack of interest in them. She found herself shuffling over towards the barmaid before slowly taking a few steps back, her hood moving over her head and she staggered heavily over towards the pillar before sinking down with her back to it.

Syana watched the two, her emerald orbs dancing between the two and part of her could see they looked cute together. A small pang of sadness formed in her heart at that thought, but she dismissed it as just this dizzy drunk. As she sat on the floor with the hood on her head, she watched the two talk; knowing little about the conversation; she felt dizzy and her eyes closed. Before she knew it, the darkness enveloped her and she found herself drifting off into a slumber, head cocked to the side.

[Jimmydalad]

"I know I know." Kasumi repeated dismissively, waving her hands as if trying to shush his argument. "I've talked to her about it. But like, getting taken to a demon world? How does that even happen?" Kasumi had been attempting to try and keep Riley's disappearance a secret, but the alcohol mixing up with the fact that it was Maddox made her more willing to divulge her feelings.

"Whatever feelings she felt, they couldn't possibly compare to mine. She only came back to her guild being gone." Kasumi's frustrations continued to rise as she talked, finishing off her drink before sloppily placing it on the bar. "Me? I was there. I had to hide and watch everyone get slaughtered by Phantom Cloak. I had to watch my family die and fall apart!"

Kasumi's breath was rapid and her eyes were filled with regret. If she had been stronger, would she have been able to do anything or would she had just died that day as well? That was a question that haunted her ever since the incident occurred. She stopped talking, clutching her head as she tried to calm herself down. She refused to cry, but felt tears slowly trickling down.

"I-I'm sorry." She gurgled, making a strong effort to look at Maddox in the eyes. "I will always consider Riley as a friend, if not sister to me. I.. I just can't help it. I wasn't strong enough then and I'm not even strong enough now to do anything." Kasumi felt a sense of helplessness crash down on her as she moved around the bar and sat down on one of the stools. Her face looked serene as she noticed that Syana had fallen asleep.

"Sometimes I feel like I should've died that evening as well." It was an honest confession and one that was quieter than her previous outburst. Heavy eyes drifted between Maddox and Syana as Kasumi continued to babble. "I have to tell myself at times to keep fighting. For myself so that I can get revenge for a family that I had lost and for others like Syana, so that they never have to go through the things I had to."

After a moment of silence, Kasumi rang out with hollow laughter.

"I must look pathetic right now." She muttered critically as she slouched on the bar.

[Rii <3]

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