Welcome to Gaia! ::

By the time they emerge from the bathhouse, Macaire is squeaky clean, wearing damp (but clean!) clothing, his hair still sticking damply to his skin, rubbing his clean-shaven face. He is a touch closer to sobriety though he has not quite reached that point just yet, and he is trying to figure out just how it was that Eluf was able to keep him from punching the barber who helped shave him.

He's not entirely sure how it happened. He'd just known that he didn't like anyone getting close to him with any kind of blade, razor or no, and then Eluf had taken his hand and looked at him and he'd let the poor gentleman back down onto his feet and sat placidly back down. Is it some kind of .. magic that Eluf has? A spell that he's cast?

Outside of the bathhouse, one hand lain heavily on Eluf's shoulder, he blinks down at Cadence. Just like outside of the tavern, Cadence has somehow attracted attention -- he is lying on someone's folded up coat, and there is a scattering of offerings lain beside him, and perhaps even some beside Axe.

" .. they're mad," he mutters sidelong to Eluf, though his tone is merely groggy now, and not as slurred as before. "Tae think me lad kin save 'em all."

Cadence has sat placidly under the force of Axe's disdain, at times pushing some of his presents toward the other Guardian; he has never been bothered by anyone's scorn before, and isn't likely to start now. He hauls himself to his feet as Eluf speaks to him, and once there bobs his head in what is obviously a nod -- yes, yes, absolutely! It is the first time he has done anything so deliberate, so clever, making obvious that he understands the whole of the conversation being carried on around him. Yet he does not appear to think he has done anything special, but only trots directly over to Macaire's side, folding his legs beneath him once more so that the taller man can be coaxed onto his back.

"B'ain't nae granther, tae need all that," Macaire complains at this sight, as if he does not recall that is how he got here in the first place. "Oi kin mount me own Guardian right enough." He scowls, but Cadence just sniffs at Eluf and does not move -- a flick of his ear in the direction of the soldier's voice suggests he does in fact hear Macaire and is simply ignoring him. With a bit of coaxing on Eluf's part, Macaire will clamber over Cadence, who will rise carefully underneath him, then wait patiently for Eluf to get astride Axe.

Cadence very much likes being petted and cooed over; he leans his head on Eluf's shoulder and snuffles at his neck in a cheerful sort of way, pleased beyond words to have such attentions. His reaction must spark some sort of guilt in Macaire, for when Eluf trots over to give similar attentions to Axe, the old soldier reaches out to scratch just behind his own Guardian's ears, speaking softly to him. Perhaps it is an apology, or an affirmation that changes or no, Macaire does still adore him --

-- but Cadence is listening for Eluf, and flicks an ear in his direction when the younger man speaks. Curving his neck and bumping his head affectionately on Axe's side, Cadence trots forward, his new longer tail twisting and curling behind him with every evidence of pleasure. He is happy to lead the way, Macaire being in little condition to do so, and once they have stopped at the appropriate set of stairs and the Chosen pair have begun to face this new obstacle, he curves and dances in front of Axe. He seems to be coaxing him, trying to get him to follow, for he knows where there is a little garden nearby that has a cool bit of clean earth for them to settle on.

Macaire greets the stairs with evident displeasure, regarding this vast mountain of a single story with a scowl. But with Eluf on one side and the railing on the other, he should be able to master it, muttering under his breath all the while. " .. oi'm a bloody fool," he groans, on the third step. "Oi drunk me a whole loch, a river o'beer .."

Cadence does not display the same concern for Macaire, the protectiveness that Axe seems to feel is necessary, but then it can be argued that his Chosen is considerably sturdier. He turns away more quickly, eager to show Axe the little garden, where there are bendy little trees that are some unknown city-dweller's attempt at recapturing the feeling of nature.

On the stairs, Macaire will need help unlocking the door, and gives his keys willingly over to Eluf, profoundly grateful for his assistance. " .. oi donnae know what oi'd be without ye, lad .. off in yon gutter, dreamin', most like .. yer a good lad .. " With Eluf's support, he will stumble into a flat kept surprisingly neat by the sole fact that Macaire simply does not own very much. There is a chest of clothing, a bed, a table, and a chair. The table is tucked under the window, and if he is quick Eluf may catch a glimpse of blue, as a little bird darts out the half-open window when they enter.

Macaire himself does not seem to notice, but is willing enough to be taken over to his bed and set down there, where he sighs quite as if they have just come to the end of a truly Odyssean journey.

Macaire regards him with all the sleepy bemusement of an old bear as Eluf tends to him so gently and so carefully, as if he does not understand why Eluf is doing all this for him. Why, he hasn't had anyone tuck him in since he were a wee likkle lad! Hells, he's had all manner of lovers afore now, and weren't none of them half so sweet; he blinks slowly and sleepily at Eluf for a while before apparently deciding that he will not be able to understand and giving up. " .. oi donnae deserve ye," he mumbles, as he sinks down onto the bed all in a heap, mumbling something else which trails off into incoherence as both the alcohol and his exhaustion catch up with him.

If Eluf looks about he will find a large clay jug, stoppered with wax, that turns out to contain water -- and though there is no cup, there is a low basin, presumably what Macaire uses to wash his face and shave in the mornings. These items are tucked under the simple table that sits in front of the window, and sitting atop the table are a stack of thin leather-bound books, the sort of cheap paper that someone of Macaire's status is presumably able to afford. Surely Macaire wouldn't mind him looking through them ..

With a last mumbled sigh, the old soldier's breath deepens as he slips into a deeper sleep. Even should his flat collapse atop of him, it's doubtful that Macaire would wake.