Secrets With A Splash of Wine

RP Date: 2026-11-08

Participants: Adamina, Charleigh, Marw, Naledi

Summary

Charleigh, Marw, Naledi and Adamina have what passes for a girls' night in Grimwych.

This archive was published after approval by all listed participants.

Roleplay

Charleigh came in with a faint smell of flour and sugar following her. Since her package the girl had found herself making delightful things with her ingredients. It was in hopes that at the bar she may find just a bit of rum to put into her works of art. The lady pouring the glass was offered a small nod out of manners before she went looking through all the bottles for a bit of hope.

Marw returns the young woman's nod, before realising that Charleigh appears to be heading behind the bar herself. No sense in both of them being here, especially when her own business here is concluded. She gathers her three favourite children, a rather respectable Cabernet Sauvignon, a Merlot and the open Pinot Noir, along with her generously filled glass, and moves out of the way without a word. There is something to be said for having such uncomplicated offspring. They ask nothing of her, rarely disappoint, and improve the quality of an evening considerably! She makes her way towards the table beside the fire, setting the two unopened bottles down before placing the open one quite deliberately in the centre, where it can be reached without unnecessary effort. Priorities! She settles herself into a chair with anexhale, then tilts her head slowly to one side, then the other, attempting to stretch out the beginnings of an ache in her neck before it develops into something more. A small roll of her shoulders follows, her coat unbuttoned but left on and then she reaches for her glass, taking a long, appreciative sip. Much better. Whatever the rest of the evening might have in store, at least the wine situation is now satisfactorily resolved.

Naledi appears.

Naledi had been conveniently needing to go on "errands" and attend "meetings" and "social events" every time a certain sandman returned home to the apartment as of late. She most definitely was not avoiding him, they just simply had bad timing. This evening had been one of those times (it didn't matter that the elf had only arrived home ten minutes before he did). Back her coat and boots went on and down the stairs she went. Without a premeditated destination in mind, Naledi finds herself trekking a familiar path through the village and eventually pushing through the door of the Last Chance and cautiously peering inside. Last night's attempt at socialization wasn't exactly successful; thankfully tonight was a smaller crowd and she already knew one of the woman. Naledi takes about 8 seconds to assess the scene before moving behind the bar and grabbing a wine glass. "You're going to have to look in hidden spots for rum," she informs Charleigh with an apologetic smile, having overheard her query. Without missing a beat the elf vacates the bar area to join Marw's table, taking the seat opposite her, and helps herself to the open bottle of pinot, pouring herself a glass.

Marw takes a large sip of wine again before daring to swirl the crimson liquid in her glass, a bit more gently than she would normally. A glance towards Charleigh, a pause as the blue eyes just stare at the woman for a moment. "Yes." she confirms. "Yes I know of four places." Thats it, she answered the question, she was just not telling where. Then as Naledi has the cheek to help herself to her wine, eyes narrow on the elf as if she had a death wish for such cheek. But seeing as the young woman had stared at a wolf while it growled at them while they searched a corpse and also on a separate occasion been company while a second werewolf had wanted to perform a sacrifice on the rocks immediately, she gets a free pass for tonight. After all death was on the cards for someone in Grimwych, tomorrow would be the day they would be a step closer to knowing who that card would be dealt to. Leaning back in her chair, she then looks to Naledi "The man from the rocks decided to invite himself into my home today. He seemed to give me the impression he would quite want to move in with me. How forward." Then a look to the elf as if to silently ask, how was your day? Today that is, today was a safe topic, the looming shadow of tomorrow is best left unuttered. Also Naledi better do the people thing with Charleigh and invite her over, Marw is incapable of that.

Charleigh let out another sigh and wiped her dusty hands against the apron that was tied at her waist. "Well now I know to look harder and there will be four places to look..." It wasn't that she was ungrateful, since being here she had secured potatoes and received items to turn into a simple pie.

Adamina has completed her work for the day, and since someone mentioned mutton has ventured into the tavern in search of free food that isn't rats and potential company.  She has washed her hands and face after a day of carpentry and ship repair and now looks presentable, even if the sleeves of her dress are rolled up to her elbows and her tattoos are on display.

Marw catches that rare grin from Naledi and takes a rather deliberate sip of her wine to mask her own. "If only I were ten years younger, blind, and possessed considerably lower standards, I might consider him. Fortunately, there are rather better prospects currently available to me." She takes another sip, satisfied with that assessment of the theoretical and unsubstantiated question, before adopting a slightly more serious tone. "No, he recognised the merits of my residence, which I can't fault him for. Luckily, I was able to redirect his ambitions elsewhere." She leaves it at that. Her attention shifts to Naledi's shrug, which she registers without pressing for further explanation, for now, time and a place and all. Instead, she follows the elf's invitation with a look towards Charleigh. "If you must join us, bring a glass. You may not partake if you are one of those savages who drink directly from the bottle." Having established what she considers a perfectly reasonable standard of civilisation, she lifts her glass once more, leaving Naledi to deal with the remaining pleasantries.

Charleigh took the invite from Naledi and picked up a wine glass to join the table with. "Good evening.." she said taking a chair and pulling herself to the table before placing her hands into her lap. The braid that fell against her shoulder was tied in the well know purple ribbon, it showed she had also been gifted something.

Naledi leans forward in her seat, now clearly interested in this drop of gossip.  "Care to share about these prospects you have?" she inquires with a waggle of her brows.  When Charleigh sits down, the elf takes up the bottle once more and pours the woman a glass.  "Hi there, my name is Naledi.  The ray of sunshine across from me is Ms. Foxx."  Blue eyes shift towards to door when she hears it open and she supposes she is playing hostess tonight.  She's not feeling particularly jovial, but it's a good enough distraction from her thoughts.  "Come have a glass of wine with us?" she offers Adamina, waggling the bottle in her direction.  "Just grab a glass otherwise Marw might have a conniption."

Adamina hears a familiar voice almost as soon as she is through the door, and there she is; Marw Foxx, holding court.  Some things never change.  She gives her hands an extra wipe on her long, well-made skirts, even though all that's there to wipe off her palms is the sweat of nervousness, and smiles at Naledi. "You're very kind, thank you for the offer."  She takes up the seat opposite her not-mother, and since she recognizes the elf but not the other woman, introduces herself. "I'm Adamina.  A pleasure to make your acquaintance."  She hangs her cloak over the back of her chair, fetches herself a glass, and sits back down. "Yes, tell us of these better prospects." 

Charleigh smiled as she was gave introductions and greetings by the other women. "Pleasure to meetin y'all. I am Charleigh" her voice held a bit of twang to it. Her eyes scanned over each of the women making sure to keep in line who was who, it helped to know people is what she was told. There was talks of prospects, and these talks always went better with a bit of alcoholic help. A nod of thanks was gave before lifting the glass and taking a small sip of the red liquid.

Leon pops in briefly to just be canoodling with Davis cutely in the corner.

Marw ooks from Naledi to Adamina, then back again, her expression settling into one of absolute resolve. "Absolutely not." Two words, delivered with all the finality of a door being slammed shut. "My prospects are not a matter for speculation or heaven forbid, a village committee." The subject she believes is quite satisfactorily concluded, regardless of whether either woman agrees. Her attention shifts towards Charleigh, catching sight of the familiar plum ribbon tied into her braid. "I would advise against wearing that tomorrow." She gestures lightly towards the ribbon with her glass. "There have been rather a number of unsavoury parcels delivered this week." She leaves the advice there, neither pressing for an explanation nor demanding the ribbon be removed. Instead, she looks around the table, noting that everyone is now suitably equipped with a glass. Well, there is only one thing for it. She raises her own, holding it aloft for a moment. "To tonight," she begins, with more deliberate cadence than usual. "To the headaches we shall earn and the hangovers we shall undoubtedly regret. To the troubles that can wait until morning, the questions that do not require answers, and the burdens we might, for a few precious hours, set aside." Her gaze passing between the three women. She takes a breath, the faintest trace of a smile appearing at the corner of her mouth. "And, for tonight at least, of simply not giving a fuck." There it is. A word that so rarely passes Marw Foxx's lips that its appearance might reasonably be considered an event worthy of recording in the village archives. She offers no apology, merely lifts her glass a fraction higher. "Ladies." And with that, she takes a generous drink of her wine.

Davis was canoodling with Leon. Maybe even feeding him pieces of that sheep that was cooked late last night.

Naledi sticks out her lips in an impressive pout when Marw immediately shuts down the idea of some girly chit chat about romantic prospects.  "Aww c'mon.  Some of us want to live vicariously through others who have found a little romance and excitement in their life."  Still, the elf pours Adamina a glass of Marw's wine when she sits down, noting they were going to have to open a new bottle soon.  She is about to take another sip from her glass when Ms. Foxx proposes a toast and a more gentle smile crosses her lips and she clinks her glass and the others.  "To tonight."

Charleigh oocly Will have to poof and tend to the youngin. The bandage came off so I am going to bathe him and rewrap his finger!

Adamina briefly attempts to make eye contact with Leon in a "let's talk later" sort of way, and then leaves her new friend to his canoodling; this is girl time.  She accepts the glass and smiles at both Marw and Naledi.  She is about to speak, but then the word <i>fuck</i> leaves her mother's mouth.  Mina can count the number of times Marw has cursed in all of her very very long life on one hand, and she slow blinks despite herself.  She masks it by raising her glass. "To tonight, and not giving a fuck."  She drinks deeply of her not-mother's winfe, taking some glee in the social acceptability of doing so and knowing that  there was only so much wine to be had, and Marw now had less of it. "Well if you refuse to enlighten us with your romantic shenanigans, would you ladies like to her about how Mister Lucian Corvo and I vanquished a very large widow spider the other day?" 

Marw catches Naledi's glance towards the near empty bottle of wine, and her own gaze travels briefly to the second and third bottles. There is no verbal invitation, or indication that she intends to surrender ownership of either, but perhaps the elf's cheeky streak this evening might extend to helping herself. Perhaps, for tonight at least, Marw might find herselfgracious enough let such an offence pass without reprimand. Her attention returns to Adamina just in time to hear her echo that most uncharacteristic choice of vocabulary. An eyebrow arches, followed by a tut and a small shake of her head, although the faintest smirk at the corner of her mouth rather undermines the disapproval. Free passes all round it seems. "The pair of you, you are both quite young enough to be getting into romantic shenanigans of your own without taking even the slightest interest in my life." Her wine glass remains comfortably cradled in one hand, raised now and again for a leisurely sip. With that matter, once again, settled she hopes, she tilts her head towards Adamina and gives a encouraging nod. "Very well. But first, tell us precisely how large this spider was before you begin your tale." Then the last of her wine glass drank and held out to Naledi "I think i need a top up if we must listen to bug stories."

Naledi ::  The other two wines bottles are safe for the time being, but most likely not for long.  Naledi sighs rather dramatically when Marw refuses to give him and draws on leg up on the chair, tenting it close to her body as she drinks from her own glass.  She likewise dips her head in agreement with wanting to hear Mina's tale.  "Sure let's hear it."

Adamina takes a sip of her wine and prepares herself to regale her not-mother and Naledi with tales of adventures she never would have mentioned to anyone in Solol, lest word get back to her family. "Oh it was very large.  The body was probably seven feet, add three more with the legs.  Large enough I could jump onto its back from the main deck."  Another sip. "Well, I was searching the ship for navigation and carpentry tools, and came across the widow in her web.  I fled back upstairs, but Mr. Corvo, gods bless him, was determined to confront the spider.  They don't have giant spiders in his world; so he was very surprised when he fell down into her web."  The spills the story of the battle with epic dramatization, being sure to subtly focus on the Mexican guitarist's quick thinking, resourcefulness and resilience.  At the end, he has carved his way through the spider's belly, she has stabbed the creature in the eye, and they have come away victorious.

Marw has been holding her empty wine glass out towards Naledi for what must be five years by now but apparently the elf was so enthralled by the tale of a giant spider, it has gone unnoticed. "Rude." The word is muttered beneath her breath, but her tone lacked the usual venom. She leans forward and retrieves the second bottle herself, opening it with practiced ease, pouring a generous measure into her own glass. The other two glasses receive a top up as well. She settles back to listen, nursing the wine as Adamina recounts her adventure, an eyebrow arching on several occasions. There is a narrow of her eyes to the redhead as if to silently convey <i>'I know what you are doing'</i> "Mr Corvo is good for the village. He is a good man." There is a nod of approval before her attention returns to Adamina. "And you, are evidently quite resourceful. It is admirable to be a woman who can stab a ten-foot spider in the eye." Another drink, and the glass is returned to the table. <br /> Now, Marw Foxx has consumed approximately half a bottle of red wine at home, and a rather substantial portion of another since arriving at the Taverne. This is, of course, an entirely reasonable quantity of wine for a woman who has endured the week she has. At this point sensible decisions?.start to cease existing. She leans forward, looking from Naledi to Adamina, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "I have a secret." A pause, very deliberate. "There is a tunnel. In my home. An unmapped tunnel." She glances between them again. "And I am going to find out precisely where it leads. I don't know what it leads to but?." She considers this for a moment and shakes her head as she gets back on track. "But that is not the secret I wish to show you. Come." With that, she rises from her chair, collecting her wine glass on the way and snapping her fingers impatiently. "Both of you. Not a word to anyone else." She strides towards the bar with all the purpose, slipping behind it without the slightest hesitation. The toe of her boot catches the edge of a rug, kicking it back to reveal a trapdoor set into the floorboards. She bends, pulls it open and gestures towards the steps leading down into the cellar. "Behold." It is delivered with perhaps rather more ceremony than a trapdoor deserves or that Ms Foxx normally bestows upon?.anything. Below lies a surprisingly well-stocked cellar, with bottles of wine and spirits. "Now." She turns to face the two younger women, raising one finger with the utmost seriousness. "If either of you tells another living soul about this, I shall take your head and smash it against that wall until I can paint it with your brains." A pause. She takes another sip of wine, before she asks. "Are we clear?"

Adamina takes another slow sip of her wine.  She was never much of a wine girl, despite her mother's predisposition towards it, though she and Valdis did once consume an entire bottle as teenagers when their parents were out for the evening.  Mother and Dad had returned to two  giggling girls sitting in a pile of snacks with someone's stash of cigarettes.  Now her not-mother is drunk <i>in public.</i>  <i>And </i>saying nice things about people.  Mina finishes her first glass, unwilling out of habit to leave a drink unattended, and follows Marw to see this "sevret".  Her  eyes go wide as she beholds what is beneath the carpet, and all she can do is nod, fully aware that Marw will absolutely carry that threat out. "Understood." 

Naledi shivers and hugs her leg to her chest as she tilts her head back downs the remainder of the wine in her glass.  She hates spiders.  Almost as much as she hates clowns.  Have completely missed Marw's request for a refill, the elf ends up nudging her now empty glass towards the woman for her own.  The mention of a secret piques her interest, though, and the elf all but convinces herself she is going to hear about Marw's secret crush.  Unfortunately, it's not that kind of secret, but still an interesting one that she tucks away for later prodding.  As previously mentioned, Naledi is a woman who worked for Ms. Foxx in their previous life, so it's automatic for her to obey a direct command at this point.  The snap and directive to follow is met with the elf standing and doing just that.  But she does shoot Mina a curious sidelong glance.  Blue eyes widen in surprise when the secret is revealed and Naledi mimes zipping her mouth shut, locking it up, and tossing the key.  

Marw regards the two women and their solemn vow to keep her secret. Good. At least until one of them drinks enough to forget the arrangement. Speaking of which, she glances down at her wine glass, only to discover that it is empty once again. How unfortunate! When precisely that happened is something of a mystery, althoughthe increasing need for fresh cold night air indicates maybe she had something to do with it. An excellent idea! Perhaps the finest she has had all evening! Leaving the two younger women to appreciate the considerable treasures of the cellar, she retrieves the last unopened bottles of red and tucks it under her arm. "Well, ladies. I shall leave you to your discoveries." She turns towards the door, then pauses, looking back at the pair of them. "I expect to see you both at the meeting tomorrow, looking as though you are suffering terribly for every decision you make tonight. Anything less, and I shall be profoundly disappointed." There is a self satisfied nod, as if she has just imparted exceptionally sound advice. She begins taking a few steps backwards towards the door, lifting her free hand to point an accusing finger between the two women. "And remember our motto for this evening?To tonight, and not giving a fuck." She looks expectantly between them. "Now, I wish to hear you both say it." The finger moves from Naledi to Adamina, accompanied by a pointed look for each. "Both of you. Now."

Adamina grins broadly. She is only maybe a glass of wine into drinking for the evening and far more accustomed to sometimes drunk and rowdy crowds then she lets on. Definitely more so than she ever told any of her family members.  Laughing, she raises her also empty glass. "To tonight, and not giving a fuck!" if allowed she will clink her glass with Naledi's.

Naledi watches Marw retreat towards the door but not before making one more demand.  "To tonight and not giving a fuck!" the elf echoes the two others and likewise clinks her empty glass against Adamina's.  Only once Marw has left the tavern does she turn to the other woman with a sort of grimace.  "Do...you think she can make it home okay?"

Marw gives them both a wink as they repeat the words, then she spins on the heels on the boots and pushes the door open, stepping out. Just before the door swings closed, perhaps the two ladies will hear her mutter "I am so going to throw up later?"

Adamina laughs again. "Her? Of course. And if not, I'm sure a handsome singer can give her a helping hand." Her grin returns, sharp and with fine humor. "But swearing and getting drunk in public. We are never letting her live this down." .

Naledi 's eyes widen.  "Wait...are you saying <i>Mr. Corvo </i>is her romantic prospect?!"  Naledi's mind is blown and she's taken back to a conversation with Lucian where he was asking about Marw and it suddenly makes sense.  "This has been...a most interesting night."  Moving back to the table, Naledi pops open another bottle of wine and pours herself another glass before offering to do the same for Mina.

Adamina grins like the cat that just ate the canary. "I suspect so, yes. That's why I was quite sure to point out all of the qualities she would approve of in that story.  He helped me kill a spider and find a bunch of navigation equipment; if he can find some heart to be within her, then more power to them. You remember how miserable she was with my father." Mina regards the elf of the rim of her.glass.

Naledi considers this as she takes another sip from her own glass, her mind already beginning to feel pleasantly fuzzy.  She hadn't drank much in recent years and her lack of food intake recently meant the wine was hitting her quickly.  "Huh.  Well, Mr. Corvo is a nice man.  He seems like he'd be able to hold his own with her."<p><br /></p>

Adamina nods deeply. "He's very nice and I expect he knows what he's getting into. It's hard?"she falters a bit. "Being told that you aren't someone's child but after everything she's gone through, maybe she deserves the chance to choose herself."Now Mina takes a longer and deeper drink.