Chats At The Tavern

[Shinku]

"Oi! We've been doin' missions here and there! Should we be relaxin' today and maybe grab some rum!," Jack complained after surviving a long day of battling some mutated plants.

"Didn't you just drink last night?," Shinku responded with a raised brow, adjusting the hood of his cloak to keep his face hidden as they entered Arcadia.

"That was but a few bottles. And ye both left me to drink alone! What I meant was, should we be takin' some time bonding. And hey Callon! Ye should call yer' boss! He might treat us to a round of drinks like the last time!," the pirate snickered, leaning against the soldier, his hand embraced across his shoulder.

"I don't know. The general's a busy man. I don't think we could just invite him whenever we want," Callon responded. He didn't seem to be keen on the idea of a drinking break either, given how he'd experience being caught in a trouble once Jack gets too drunk.

"Oh come on! What's the harm in asking? Here, I'll do it fer ye'!," Jack insisted, forcing his hand into the soldier's pocket to retrieve his communicator.

"Hey!," Callon protested, but Jack was too quick to get out the device and distance himself from the soldier to make the call.

Shinku simply watched, realizing that the band did need a break from all the exhausting missions that they had. Moreover, he had been wanting to meet with Connor but couldn't seem to find an opportunity to reach out. If Jack could indeed convince the resistance leader to join them, then it would be a chance for him to make some requests and exchange information.

"Done!," the pirate exclaimed, before Callon could retrieve his communicator. "Same tavern as last time. Let's go!," he continued, leading the group with enthusiastic steps.

"Yyou made the general agree to come?," Callon asked in surprise, as he tried to keep up with the pirate's pace.

"Nah! Marcus answered on the other line. He said he'd ask Connor to come. But meh, I bet he'd that badass will show up!," Jack responded with a grin, his eyes trained forward as if seeing the tavern from a distance.

"What makes you think he will show up?"

"Just trust me matey! He will come!," the pirate replied confidently before whistling a sea shanty along the way.

Shinku watched the two from the back, his mind already working out with things he would discuss with Connor. Despite his worry that the pirate might cause some trouble once again, he couldn't help but look forward to meeting with the general.

 

[John Connor]

Connor’s mind was drifting off on light prophetic visions of the unmaking, the man blinking and trying not to lose focus on the future and what he came here to do. He caught himself drifting on and off the sleep that night as Marcus blinked “Sir, Shinku and Jack want to see you again in the tavern, they brought Micheals too I believe.

Connor shook off any thoughts of visions of the Unmaking and nodded, pulling on his militaristic wear, and blinked once again “Thank you, Marcus. Tell them I’ll be there soon and alert Sgt. Reese to watch the base while we are away.

Marcus saluted “Sir.”

While the half-terminator moved away from the room, John placed his familiar coat on and slipped something over his hand to cover the device in his hand he’d been carrying.

So far, a name change hadn’t been enough to cover his tracks, he slipped a light cloak over his military coat to avoid too much detection.

Connor and Marcus headed out toward a small tavern as a pilot soldier took the seat of the helicopter to take the two toward the tavern.

Connor was thinking of what he saw from the arbiter last night and the unmaking threat around him but quickly shook it off as Marcus looked at him “Connor, snap out of it.”

Marcus raised a brow “It’s the unmaking you are worried about, isn’t it, Connor?”

John raised an eyebrow and nodded “Yes. I. saw the arbiter last night and I can’t stop thinking about the threat upcoming to our new world.”

The pilot turned back and landed on the ground, the helicopter blades coming to a slow whir as they stopped. “Sir, we’ve arrived here.”

The General turned toward the pilot and nodded “It’s going to be a while. Take your time.”

 

[Shinku]

The Tavern was lively as always. The harmony of people's chatter, clinking of glasses and band music created a warm atmosphere inside. Shinku kept his face hidden inside his hood, keeping his senses alert for any dangers as always.

"Oi bartender! Serve us a round o' rum 'ere!," Jack called out in an imposing tone, flashing a grin at the bartender who easily complied with his request. "See! Ain't it good to 'ave fun sometimes!," the pirate exclaimed, enjoying his eyes at the sight of glasses being filled around with golden rum and people enjoying themselves on other tables.

Shinku nodded silently, somehow appreciating the change of pace from their usual missions. What he looked forward to, however, was the presence of Connor to join them.

It wasn't that long when the bartender came back with their drinks. Jack handed the bartender a gold coin before downing a pint in one go.

"Do you really think he'd come?," Callon whispered, leaning closer to Jack, his eyes darting around the tavern.

"Yohoho! Ye' still goin' about that? Just trust me matey! Yer general will show 'imself. Just wait and see. And don't let those drinks wait!," he exclaimed, refilling his mug with another rum.

"Eh shouldn't you be slowing down?"

"Let him. There's two of us to take care of him later anyway," Shinku interjected, taking a few sips himself, his eyes still expectant of Connor.

"As you wish sir," Callon complied, taking a gulp of his own drink.

"Didn't I tell you to drop that 'sir' thing already?"

"Oh. Yeah of course. Can't help it at times."

"Well, I guess let's just enjoy ourselves for now," Shinku remarked, somehow relaxing himself, yet keeping his guard up at the same time.

 

[John Connor]

It’s when Connor with a cloak and Marcus was beside him and they made it in the tavern. Connor looked around and blinked, looking around for Shinku, Jack, and Micheals.

Marcus blinked as he swerved through the crowd, eyeing the mixed crowds as he swore, he could see Jack and Micheals in the crowd.

The cyborg seemed more comfortable in a bar over time than Connor, who was following along slowly. It’s been a while since Marcus had drunk something but wondered if alcohol still bothered his half-cyborg body these days.

Marcus noticed the crowd first, Jack already going on his second rum, Michaels a hint nervous from a distance.

The cyborg didn’t mind sitting down at the table containing “Trevor”, Michaels and Jack and sighed “Baum is coming. He’s on his way. He waved the bartender over for a beer himself.

It’s when Connor made his way over to the table and blinked “Trevor. It’s good to see you again.”

 

[Shinku]

"General!" Callon quickly rose from his seat upon noticing the General approaching them. Despite Connor wearing a cloak, the soldier's eyes seemed keen enough to recognize the resistance leader anyway.

"Oh hey," Shinku stood as well out of respect, extending a hand to shake with Connor's. "Glad you joined us here.

“Haha! I told ye' both didn't I? He will come!," Jack bragged, grinning widely before downing another mug of rum.

"Ah, take a sit!," Shinku invited, gesturing towards the empty seat beside him.

 

[John Connor]

John nodded, shaking Shinku’s hand “Same to you, I’m assuming Jack contacted Marcus only a few times, am I right?” His voice sounded relaxed yet somewhat a bit annoyed.

John Connor was in the midst of thinking of the unmade.

“At ease, Micheals.”

John sat down near Shinku and nodded.

 

[Shinku]

"Ah! This one's fer ye' matey!," the pirate then exclaimed, slamming a fresh mug of rum in front of Connor. His face reddened with obvious early signs of drunkenness which caused Callon to cast a worried glance at Connor.

"Hey, tone it down will you?," Callon whispered at Jack, nervous at his rowdy behavior in front of the General.

Shinku pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance, before deciding to open his lips. "Mhm. Anyway, how's your base going?," Shinku inquired, steering Connor's attention away from the pirate. The assassin maintained a sense of formality in spite of the tavern's laid-back atmosphere.

 

[John Connor]

“It’s been quiet to say the least, Shinku.”

John looked through the small plans “I haven’t fully mapped out my plans for the unmade yet but a weird dream vision showed me the Arbiter Of Erde.

Still trying to Decipher that.”

John watched as he moved the beer toward Marcus “here.”

 

[Shinku]

“Wait, did you mean the Arbiter Terrence?,” Shinku exclaimed, trying his best to tone his voice down. The sudden mention of the Arbiter piqued the assassin's interest. The last time the Arbiter appeared to him in a dream was the time when the occults activities were high at the city. It was the same time when tension rose within Arcadia. Now that everything seemed to have calmed down, could it be that the Arbiter's appearance in Connor's vision meant a new danger that threatens the city? "So what did he say?," he asked intently, leaning closer to Connor, his visage sporting a more stern expression.

Jack, on the other hand, continued his rounds of drinks, seemingly unfazed at the conversations going around him. He raised his mug, toasting to no one in particular before downing another shot of rum. "Splice the mainbrace!," he shouted in drunken exuberance.

Shinku shot the pirate a disapproving look, before turning his attention back to John.

 

[John Connor]

John nodded, keeping his eyes over at Shinku for the time being, but he was happy to see Micheals doing so well with the two so far, trying to keep a conversation between both the solider and Trevor at the same time.

Connor nodded “Yeah, the Aribiter, Terrence. Says nothing really is bothering Erde but other planets so to speak. I’ve..never met a Knight or King myself before so this.. Is new for me to say the least. But that’s the risks involved in taking on things mostly alone.”

“I’ve only managed to piece certain parts together during last year’s DA but I only got to look over the evidence of others risking their lives in that hole to fight Saran before the evidence was passed on to Mustang.”

John bit his tongue and stared sternly at Jack, who was already starting his drunken stupor.

“I’ve seen even Marcus’s girlfriend send me info every so often from the Pilot’s Union about the mess going on in Cervanti.”

 

[Shinku]

"And who is this Mustang?," Shinku inquired, his eyes narrowing in curiosity. He's heard of Cevanti and the siege at Markov but no particular mention of those involved in it. The victory of the siege touched his interest though, that the mention of the world pulled his attention to Connor's speech even more.

"Hey, just sit down. See, you're already drunk. Didn't I tell you to slow down?," Callon on the other side, was struggling to keep Jack at bay. He scoffed at the sight of Marcus seemingly enjoying his struggle with the pirate but focused on keeping Jack calm anyway.

"Aha! Yer' skipping yer' drink again! Ye' sly ye'," Jack mocked in drunkenness, forcing the soldier to take a drink of rum from his mug.

 

[John Connor]

John’s eyes looked like they had raccoon rings like he hadn’t slept for days.

He wanted so desperately to sleep but every time he did, he was plagued with thoughts of Skynet that didn’t exist here and the Unmaking and people screaming through his head.

John looked back “His name is Colonel Mustang. He has his own operation on Cevanti, there’s a constant mess going on there with the unmaking. I only met him a few times through Dante’s Abyss and served some military time under him in Conquest. But he’s a man to trust, just as serious as me when it comes to the Unmaking.

 

[Shinku]

"So do you plan on going to Cevanti to meet this Colonel Mustang?," the assassin responded with another inquiry, while momentarily taking a glance at Callon and Jack. Though the soldier seemed to be doing a good job in keeping the pirate from causing trouble once again, he couldn't help but worry that Callon's control of Jack wouldn't last that much.

Miraculously though, Jack remained under the soldier's control. The worst he did so far was loudly hum a sea shanty but nothing more that could potentially cause any trouble.

 

[John Connor]

Just when things seemed too quiet, a crowd started to go amiss as the local news channel showed up with a news sheet. “And in other news, today at this local tavern, two of the Crossroad’s local celebrities have come to this quiet tavern seeking respite

Who are these local celebrities, you say? Last time we saw them, we have General Connor and Trevor O’ Sully here in this ba-

The crowd began to step into the bar to try and meet these celebrities in person when the bar was already in a mess of chaos itself.

John frowned “I communicated with him a while back, thinking he could use my help or vice versa, but he’s got his own thing going on and so do I.”

 

[Shinku]

Before Shinku could open his lips, a stranger suddenly intervened. "It is true! you both are here! Guys! Trevor and General Connor is here!," the stranger shouted, causing heads to turn their way.

"This can't be good," Shinku muttered, slapping his hand to his temple. The last thing he wanted was the appearance of a fanatic crowd, especially at the time when his conversation with Connor has gotten more and more interesting.

Unfortunately, the stranger's beckon drew quite a large crowd towards them.

 

[John Connor]

The annoyed Sgt. Marcus pushed himself up from the table, trying to push away any attention from the group “Over here, right now Trevor and Connor do not want to be distur-

Of course, the Sgt’s attention was ignored as the crowd pushed past Marcus trying to get to the General, and Trevor in the flesh. “OH MY GOD! IT’S OUR HEROES"

 

[Shinku]

Callon wanted to help control the crowd, however, his hands were tied with keeping Jack in check.

"Ah! Yer right! Both our heroes are in 'ere!," Jack exclaimed, adding to the chaos that had already ruled inside the tavern. A few tavern staff needed to step in to help control the sudden commotion among the excited crowd but even them, seemed to have trouble as people were pushing to take a glance at Connor and Shinku - or more known to them as Trevor.

Shinku would have escaped with his shadows, if not for his companions whom he refused to just leave behind, especially at a time when his companions were trying their best to control the situation.

Tension built up quickly, as the crowd aimed to move closer to the two mentioned 'celebrities'. Everybody spoke at once, their voices blending into a chaotic roar that made it hard even for those near them to understand.

"What do these people want?," Shinku muttered in frustration, his eyes scanning the noisy crowd in front of him.

 

[John Connor]

Marcus gritted his teeth, trying to keep a straight face while he was being almost overwhelmed with the crazy crowd trying to get closer “Jack…now isn’t a goo- FUCK!”

John sighed and gritted his teeth. The crazy commotion and everything that could go wrong would go wrong was already here.
“I don’t know, “Trevor” but what do you people want?!” The general’s mood was slowly simmering between annoyed and angry.

 

[Shinku]

"Hey Callon! Bring out the gold we earned from our last mission! Throw them at the crowd!," Shinku commanded with a sense of urgency, realizing that there was no other way to disperse the crowd that gathered around them

"Wait you mean these golds? Aren't we throwing away so much?," the soldier questioned with concern, his eyes pitying the amount of gold that he'd part with.

"We have no other choice. We need to distract them to escape!," Shinku insisted, his eyes sternly trained at Callon.

Indeed, left with no choice, Callon threw the bag of coins after closing his eyes in regret.

As expected, the crowd's attention quickly shifted to the bounty that flew right above them. From wrestling their way towards the celebrities that they visited in the tavern, the crowd now werestled against each other to capture the gold coins that quickly descended towards them.

"This is our chance. Let's go!," Shinku quickly beckoned, running towards the service area of the tavern.

"Hey this area is restricted!," one of the staff protested, in an attempt to stop Shinku from passing through but of no avail.

Callon carried the drunk pirate on his back and quickly followed after Shinku.