Pog Mahone's Irish Pub, Baltimore, Saturday Afternoon

[not_every_mage]

This was still the tackiest Irish-themed pub in America, just as it had been for Anders' and Edward's first visit the fall before. Almost everything that could be faded, scratched or dingy was, and the badly outdated St. Patrick's Day posters curled off the walls at their edges. But the beers were cheap, the bartenders were lax about carding, and Anders knew from past experience that the nachos were thick with melted cheese and gloppy guacamole.

It was, in other words, the perfect place to introduce Thorin to earth culture.

"They added a new type of nachos!" Anders exclaimed with some delight, as he squinted at the menu. "Irish. With ... potato slices, cheese and bacon. We have to try those, don't we?"

[OOC: For those named. NFB due to distance.]

Comments

[not_every_mage]

"Maybe," Anders said, frowning at a neon shamrock. "But if that was it, how would they make sure it was all the same green and orange?"

[doesnotkneel]

"Perhaps we should go with the more terrifying explanation," Edward said, "and consider the notion they chose these colors on purpose."

He leaned over the bar. "Can we have three of the Irish nachos dishes, sir?"

[dwarvenswagger]

"And ale," Thorin chimed in. You know, in case it didn't end up being edible.

He managed to sound incredibly serious about this entire thing, though.

[not_every_mage]

"Three ales, and the fried mozzarella cheese," Anders chimed in. Just in case the nachos weren't enough grease for a year or so.

The bartender grumbled some acknowledgement and turned to fill greasy mugs with ale.

[doesnotkneel]

"This is going to be an excellent night, lads," Edward proclaimed. "We're inducting a newcomer into our hallowed group of honorable drunkards."

Well, Ed was probably the only one who came close to actually aspiring to that title, but whatever.

[dwarvenswagger]

"I will leave that venerable title to the two of you," Thorin replied with a grin. "Dwarves hold their alcohol better than men."

Which might have been the case when Thorin was older, but...

[not_every_mage]

"Is that because you're all shaped like casks of ale to start with?" Anders mused, reaching for the mug closest to him.

He wasn't a drunkard, but he could do a good imitation of one when the occasion required.

[doesnotkneel]

Edward grabbed a mug of his own and took a nice, long drink from it. "Ah, I thought that the smaller you get, the more your tolerance lessens," he teased.

Or challenged. One of those things.

[dwarvenswagger]

Thorin tossed up a rude gesture in Iglishmêk as he downed his mug in a few gulps. Because none could say his people were not prone to rising to a challenge laid before them.

He blinked once he set the mug back down with a clack on the table. Then burped. "It's watered down. Is all that your people drink as such?"

[not_every_mage]

"No," Anders protested out of misplaced pride. "We have whiskey too. We just wanted to be nice and start with something weaker."

[doesnotkneel]

"We have plenty for the discerning gentleman," Edward said, grinning. "We can order you some, if you like."

[dwarvenswagger]

That's what you get when you call him short. He was a very tall dwarf, thank you.

"If you don't think it too much for you to handle..."

[not_every_mage]

Anders snorted. "You couldn't give me more than I could handle."

That wasn't flirting. That was just ... keeping in practice. He raised his voice to attract the bartender's attention.

"Three shots of whiskey, barkeep."

[doesnotkneel]

Edward would be over here, chugging back that ale of his before the whiskey arrived.

What? It was only smart to put down a bit of fortification in his stomach.

[dwarvenswagger]

This was gonna end sooooo badly. Probably with puking in the street.

"And more ale." To keep hydrated. "I think I like this place."

[not_every_mage]

"It's got personality," Anders agreed, matching Edward's pace at emptying his ale. "Not all -- hoity-toity nose in the air. 'sgood."

The replacement ales and shots arrived, as did the food. And then Anders would be quiet for a (brief) moment as he tried to eat All The Cheese.

[doesnotkneel]

Edward reached out to snag some of the potato-y bits.

Then he grabbed the shot. "You ready, Thorin, good sir?"

[dwarvenswagger]

Thorin looked at Edward and then down at the shot, swallowing down one of the so called cheese sticks before his lifted the tiny glass in response.

"Master Kenway," he replied, mimicking the tone.

[doesnotkneel]

"Master Thorin," Edward echoed, lifting the thiny glass.

He gave a most honorable nod in recognition, then downed the whole thing.

Good luck beating Edward's alcohol tolerance, lads.

[not_every_mage]

"To old friends and new," Anders said, equally formal since that seemed to be the thing they were doing.

And then he downed his and looked away so they wouldn't see the face he made. He hadn't had straight whiskey often, and he'd never learned to like it. More cheese was needed to chase the taste from his mouth.

[dwarvenswagger]

Thorin gave it a sniff before knocking it back as his compatriots had.

Then promptly coughed.

"That is potent." And no, he didn't seem upset by it.

[doesnotkneel]

"Might put another inch on you, mate," Edward said, laughing, and turned to his pint. "So how are we all finding ourselves this eve?"

[not_every_mage]

"It's a good day," Anders decided, sprawling out as best he could on a barstool. "You lot are in your right minds, for one thing. And Nathan and I have plans for a birthday weekend away in a few weeks, so there's that to look forward to."

[dwarvenswagger]

"Nathan?" Thorin asked after rolling his eyes at Edward.

[doesnotkneel]

"His..." Edward took a sip of his ale, "Close companion."

There. That was appropriate, right?