Wine in the Morning

Drip, drip, drip. The languishing sound of long drops of a blood-red liquid dripping into a steel chalice resounded outwards throughout the morning air that was wonderful and still. Closing his deep red eyes and leaning backwards, the male would raise this chalice before his lips and hold his hand up, taking back a long drag as he did so. The feeling of wine as it slipped down his throat, especially on days like this, was something that he relished greatly, especially in times where it was wonderfully peaceful. The sounds of gulls squawking overhead was something he'd groan used to, as well as the sound of the waves crashing up against the stone cliffs, hundreds of feet below. This home was one of the two that Fiachra owned upon the island of Carriag; specifically, this was the Brennan holiday home. A home that was brought down throughout Fiachra's family--the house that he inherited, not the one that he purchased with his own two hands. This home overlooked a great portion of the ocean that spread outwards, though Fiachra was certain that, if he were to squint hard enough, he'd probably be able to catch a glimpse of Esparia in the distance. Breathing out, the man calmly placed the chalice back onto the table and stretched upwards.

"You know, relaxing like this is somewhat boring." Standing up, the great hulking beast of a man turned around. He wasn't quite sure if he'd brought anyone along with him, though he would probably remember soon enough--they say that drinking wine in the morning is best for getting memories back... he didn't quite remember where that came from, but he was certain it was true. Oh, well. If anyone was here, he was certain they'd rise up eventually! Standing in his rather large jeans and white t-shirt, Fiachra really didn't look the usual part of the great General that stood by his King. For once, he was on holiday. However, being on holiday wasn't going to help his wonderfully manly physique. Instead, that would require TRAINING! First, a run into the town! Stepping as quietly as a man who was his size possibly could, Fiachra managed to sneak out the front door and into the cool air with a grin on his face. It had been quite some time since he'd really given it a proper run-around in this place. A couple of years since he'd decided to use this holiday home--he came here on a whim, dragging along whomever felt like coming. It was... strange.

"Both a son I never knew about, and a lover I never expected." He never expected to actually fall. The son bit wasn't surprising, but the lover? A man who loved everyone could never truly love a single person, could he? Maybe not, but maybe he would try. As he began to prepare himself for his morning run, a voice caught his attention. Still not quite in a morning mood, the man turned his entire body to look for the source of the voice. Who was it? It was too early to be calling for someone, even if you were watching the sunrise with wine...

She had chosen to run outside for once. Instead of running the treadmill Artemis had decided to explore the open world for once. She always was using it as a way to go see Fiachra on his holiday. She did worry for her lover. The man really needed to relax at times. Things in the palace felt wrong....rumours were going round like wild fire from Gavin's awkward courting to Seamus being fiachra's son. Just because of delirious mumbling when he came back for being missing for a month people were whispering and gossiping. Not only had it most likely stressed Fia out but Seamus was more meek and shyer then usual. She sighed heavily s she jogged round the corner. For once in black sweat pants and a white vest if it wasn't for her hair people would never recognise her.

She skidded to stop outside Fia's house and looked round. Chuckling how he got on the roof she whistled and shouted. "Oi!" She called waving with a smile that could rival fia's, as he shifted giving her a look as if she had just woken him. Smiling softly she waited hoping he wouldn't be mad at her.

"Oi!" Ah, so the voice that had called out to him had just come around the corner--was that the case in this strange morning of coolness? Smiling brightly, he finally realized exactly who the voice belonged to--and lo and behold, they happened to just casually come running around the corner, wearing especially uncharacteristic clothing. You know, it was probably a bit early for her to be out and about, especially this far out of the capital. Then again, it was also a bit early to be drinking wine on the balcony of one's vacation home, was it not? "Hah. Never too early for a drop'o'wine." Grinning to himself, Fiachra watched carefully as Artemis approached him in her jog. The look on her face as she slowed down made it appear that she was worried--did she think that she had just woken him? He had been awake for almost two hours. Two hours was plenty for waking up, at least in his opinion. His grin didn't fade as she finally approached him, Fiachra stepping forwards and wrapping his arms around her body, pulling her up and in for a hug. "Aren't we dapper in the morning for once? I thought your time wasn't until midday--it's seven!" He laughed heartily, pulling away and taking a couple of steps backwards (about six feet).

"However, enough of the pleasantries. I believe that it would not be an unintelligent idea to invite you inside, even if I was about to start running." Despite his size, his demeanour was that of an aristocrat. "You seem like you could do with a drink." He chuckled softly, the smile not fading as he remembered just how much this woman had started to mean to him recently. If he did truly have a son... he would love it if she could help him raise this child...

She watched him carefully as she approached. Having spent most of the night worrying about him. She hadn't done nights like that since the start of Gavin's rule. When he was still new and making large changes. But now she worried for Fia. In the end she decided against laying in bed staring at her ceiling but to go out and get fresh air maybe clear her head. But her heart had brought her here to him. so s he reached down and wrapped her up in his arms she didn't recoil. She dove into the embrace wrapping her own arms round his neck nuzzling softly.

"Aren't we dapper in the morning for once? I thought your time wasn't until midday--it's seven!" She huffed pouting and let her hand strike his shoulder in a sharp crack. Doubting it hurt him very much only leaving red mark. "The cheek! Maybe I should just go if all your going to do is pick on me!" she placed her hands on her hips feeling a little strange when she got a handful of the cotton material.

"However, enough of the pleasantries. I believe that it would not be an unintelligent idea to invite you inside, even if I was about to start running." She looked down. "Ah I can go if you had other plans." Red bangs covering her eyes as she chewed the inside of her cheek. How was she meant to ask him. Are you ok with this news? Do you believe it? Are you mad at him? Are you worried he's hurting himself? You know he doesn’t look well right? But her tongue would not listen to her mind as it fired question after question. Was Fia upset...was that why he was drinking so early. But his smile....soon as it turned to her she would feel her heart warm and suddenly nothing else could seem to work right within her. "You seem like you could do with a drink." She sighed softly. "I'm ok...what about you....?" A computer voice in her head accompanied by slow clapping resounded. "Wow...what a master of words." Wow...Gavin's sarcasm seemed to of implanted itself in her brain...she owed him a suffocation for that one.

Her reactions made him feel quite pleasant. He enjoyed seeing people get teased over something as simple as this; and for it to be someone like Artemis, he felt a lot more at ease than he had done earlier. He really wasn't actually one for running--he'd gone outside, sure, if only to take in the morning air. If he'd really been serious about running in the first place, that original seriousness would've died down in about thirty seconds, and he would've just gone back inside for another glass of wine and a meat pie. Oh, how he loved meat pies. A smirk crossed his lips at the bashing on his shoulder, but he knew that she'd come inside anyway. What reason would she have not to? "Ah I can go if you had other plans." He shook his head and laughed. As mentioned, he didn't care about running as much as most people. A chuckle, and a large arm was wrapped around Artemis' back. "I'm not busy, and we haven't seen each other for a while. I'd appreciate the company in this lonesome home." Leading her inside, he offered her a drink. She pleasantly denied the offer, and then said something strange.

"I'm ok...what about you....?" It took a second for him to process exactly what she'd said. Understanding that she seemed worried about something, he just laughed loudly. "My dear, I always need a drink! If there was blood in my alcohol supply, I'd be worried!" Grinning widely, Fiachra walked back over to the large balcony, taking a seat in front of the large bottle and goblet upon the table, pouring himself another drink and raising it to his lips, beckoning her over with a large hand. The drink was lowered, and Fiachra gave her a reassuring smile. "I assure you, I am alright. I have had better times, but this is nothing for a man such as I." The Creig Bull just grinned, showing that indomitable will that had flared up, over and over again...

"My dear, I always need a drink! If there was blood in my alcohol supply, I'd be worried!" She followed him out to the balcony resting her arms on the rail as she stared out over the street. He helped himself to more wine s she watched the world slowly wake up around them. The odd person walking a dog or the occupant heading to work she took it all in in a matter of seconds. she hated how her life time of training had turned her into a machine that couldn't shut off at times. Sure she seemed to come cross as lazy at times like her normal habit of sleeping in and such only because she had bugged Gavin's room and under her pillow sat a baby monitor like device. If there was trouble...she would be the first to know.

"I assure you, I am alright. I have had better times, but this is nothing for a man such as I." looked over to him as gold met warmer gold. She wondered briefly if they were to have children what would they look like. She briefly wondered if she did become pregnant and showed the Scaitch's that Fiachra had fathered the offspring would they approve. Then again the man was subtle...and her role it was a key factor. She nodded briefly to him before looking back out onto the waking sky resting her chin on her arms. She wondered briefly of maybe in different world she and Fiachra were together with there own family she couldn't help but chuckle before standing and moving toward Fia. "I'm glad....After Sammy coming back...well I'm sure you heard the rumors...That palace is nothing but a bloody gossip chain most the time..." She draped her arms around his shoulder from behind resting against him. She loved it when he was sat down and she still stood. The only time she didn't have to strain to show him simple affection.