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 Almost everything that could be faded, scratched or dingy was, and the badly outdated St. Patrick's Day posters curled off the walls at their edges.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]

That seemed like something for Edward to field, so Anders busied himself cleaning the last bits of bacon and cheese off the plate of nachos, then washed it down with a swig of whichever glass was closest. They were amassing quite a collection, and it was all starting to taste the same.

[doesnotkneel]

"I don't know," Edward admitted. "Can't see myself marrying anyone from 'round here, and she probably deserves that much. But we're having some fun as it is."

Anders, you were a lightweight.

[dwarvenswagger]

TSK. TSK, ANDERS.

Thorin's response was a little 'hmm'. Because that too was a trait of men that he'd forgotten, it would seem.

[not_every_mage]

"I don't see the point of getting married," Anders contributed. "Unless one of you has some title or property to pass down, I mean. But for normal people it just seems a lot of unnecessary fuss."

That was only ... 45 percent sour grapes. Apostates generally didn't want to spend enough time in Chantries to get married.

[dwarvenswagger]

"But if you were to find one that you could love and those feelings were returned, would you not wish to wed them?"

Look, he didn't have the best odds of this happening for him, okay? But the thought was sorta nice in a vague, distant way.

[not_every_mage]

"Maybe," Anders said, seeming to think it over. "If we wanted children, at least. Probably it's better for the brats if their parents have rings on their hands. But I think I could love someone my whole life just fine without telling the Chantry or the state about it."

[dwarvenswagger]

"What business would it be of theirs?" Thorin asked. "Would they desire your spouse?"

In which case, you kick the shit out of them. Possibly with your partner's help. Dwarves were jealous as hell, yo.

[not_every_mage]

"Probably, since I wouldn't marry somebody who wasn't desirable," Anders said, squinting at him. "How do your people marry? For us there's a whole religious ritual."

[dwarvenswagger]

"You find someone and hope that they might accept you," Thorin replied with a shrug. "Some never wed, dedicating themselves to their crafts. And unlike men, we do not stray from the one we love. Even should we be rejected."

Which was just awkward.

[not_every_mage]

"So wait, if you go up to someone and tell them you love them, and they don't agree, you're just supposed to ...moon over them forever?" Anders asked, eyebrows dancing up. "What if your love, loves you back, but then they die young?"

[dwarvenswagger]

Tolkien.

"You remain widowed." Them's the breaks. "Better than the elves. They'll apparently die of a broken heart."

How lame was that?

"This is why we do not even consider such things until we're in our 90's."

[not_every_mage]

"Your ... nineties." Anders blinked at him slowly. "So can I ask you something ridiculously personal, or would you break that tankard over my head if I do?"

[dwarvenswagger]

Thorin carefully put his nearly empty glass of rum down. "I will try to restrain myself."

[not_every_mage]

Anders took a long swig of his ... third or so, he thought, beer. "Right, so if you're supposed to have one true love, and you don't start looking for that love until you're 90, does that mean you have to go most of a century without sleeping with anyone?" he asked. "Don't your bits fall off from disuse?"

He got classy when he was tipsy. Though to be fair, he'd said worse stone sober.

[dwarvenswagger]

Thorin had to stare at him for a bit to figure out that this was him asking about sex. "No?"

What.

"Does that happen with men? I knew you were fragile compared to us, but..."

WOW.

[not_every_mage]

"I don't know," Anders said. "I don't think any of us ever manage celibacy that long. Well, chantry brethren do, but that lot never knew what to do with their parts to start with. Probably wouldn't miss them if they fell right off."

[doesnotkneel]

Edward let out a little merry laugh. "Never stopped the Catholics any," he commented. "If you get my meaning."

He finished his rum.

[dwarvenswagger]

"Perhaps the urges of men are different?"

What the heck of a Catholic anyway? It sounded disappointing.

[not_every_mage]

"Maybe," Anders said, and turned to Edward to ask a question that was on his mind, too. "Which ones are the Catholics, agaia?"

[doesnotkneel]

"The Papists," Edward said, not that that meant much. "They are Christians who follow the directives of Rome. Their priests aren't allowed to marry."

[dwarvenswagger]

"That sounds unfortunate."

Thank you, Thorin.

[not_every_mage]

"Not uncommon in human faiths, though," Anders shrugged. "Chantry priests can't wed either. They're all considered married to the Maker or his Bride. Apparently they like having a harem."

[doesnotkneel]

Edward snorted. "No such thing with the Church of England, at least," he said. "'s all a bit literal, ain't it?"

[dwarvenswagger]

Thorin got distracted from that debate as more food arrived. Along with some sort of strange, green drink.

Margaritas. Aw yeah.

"Why do you do such things? I've wondered since my arrival."

[not_every_mage]

"Be more specific," Anders asked, after a long slurp on his margarita. "Religion, sex, or drinking things this color?"