[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/qlZDizx.png[/img][/center]
[b]Time:[/b] EVENING 
[b]Location:[/b] INT. THE TIPSY TAVERN - RIVER PORT
[b]Interactions/Mentions:[/b] Zion [@Helo]

[hr]

Malachi made his return to River Port soon enough, driven by both leads and his own deduction as he approached the bustling tavern. The absence of any nearby settlements indicated that Jun couldn't have ventured too far overnight so it stood to reason that, after traversing the woods, he sought refuge in the familiar safety of the town. Gathering information from the locals revealed accounts of a perplexed individual with distinctive ears who had eventually wandered into the Tipsy Tavern, simplifying the task of pinpointing Jun's whereabouts much more than expected.

As he pushed open the creaky door, the lively chaos of the tavern assaulted Malachi's senses. The air was thick with the smells he despised and te stickiness beneath his shoes arose a feeling of queasiness as he stepped inside. Inwardly, Malachi couldn't contain his disdain for the filth. The disarrayed tables and the questionable hygiene of the surroundings fueled a list of silent complaints within him. A subtle scoff escaped his lips as he navigated through the sea of people, pushing past them without concern for politeness as he scanned the room for his target. 

At the tavern's rowdy center, a drinking contest was at full swing, its fervor capturing the attention of all present. Bets flew across the room as onlookers speculated who would triumph or falter in the next round. The vanquished lay around the table, some bodies draped across it, others slumped to the floor, their endurance bested by those who still drank.

In this commotion, Malachi's gaze locked onto a familiar cloak amidst the contestants. As the figure turned, a glimpse of Jun's face emerged from underneath the hood. Seeing how Jun's eyes widened, and his face lost its color, it was clear he recognized Malachi as well.

Jun snapped his head away and pulled his hood further down. Praying for a divine intervention that Malachi didn't (and wouldn't) notice him. [color=LemonChiffon][i]No no no no no![/i][/color]

Malachi scowled in reaction. [color=5BA6F7][i]Seriously?[/i][/color] He made a beeline for him immediately, pushing through the crowd. As he approached Jun, his typically cold expression seemed to intensify, revealing his frustration with the situation. He halted just a step away from Jun, his gaze piercing through the hood. He looked ready to snap on the human, but he paused, gritting his teeth.

Finally, Malachi's voice, usually sharp and biting, softened just a fraction as he spoke, [color=5BA6F7]"What are you doing here, Jun?[/color]" Leaning in, he pressed further, his tone low and weary, [color=5BA6F7] “This isn’t Earth and I think you realize that now. “ [/color] He gestured to the passed out patrons on the floor. [color=5BA6F7] “ Sure, you might be able to fool drunkards, but out there, when others catch on that you're a human, it's not going to end well. The dark elves who dictate this land won't be too kind to you. “ [/color] His eyes searched the young man’s for any possibility of sense, [color=5BA6F7]“What is your plan here, Jun?”[/color]The question hung in the air as the two locked gazes.

Jun angled himself away from Malachi, as if ignoring him long enough would magically make the other man disappear.

[color=teal]"Is this fellow causing you any bother?"[/color] Jun glanced up to find one of the patrons had materialized at Malachi's side, a hand firmly planted on his shoulder. A few of his buddies flanked them, watchful.

He blinked. Huh. He didn't expect this. Were these people going to help him or was this part of their roleplay?

Malachi sighed and shot a glance at the intervening patron, his irritation evident in the deep furrow of his brow. [color=5BA6F7]“Save the heroics. We’re talking and it’s [i]not[/i] your business.”[/color] He leaned in once more and whispered, [color=5BA6F7]“Jun, what is it going to take to get you to return with me? …What do you want? … You won’t come to at least see that Zion’s okay at the least?”[/color]

Jun's heart hardened when he brought up Zion. Using Zion's condition as bait was a new low for Malachi. He avoided looking at the other man, fixing his gaze on the disgusting table instead.

And that was enough of an answer for the patron. [color=teal]"Think that's your answer, Mister."[/color] His grip on Malachi's shoulder tightened ever so slightly. [color=teal]"It's best time you leave."[/color] He tried to pull Malachi away from Jun, but the elf didn't budge.

[color=Indianred]"Come on, take a hint. He don't wanna get back together."[/color] One of the patron's buddies chimed in. [color=Indianred]"Move on. There's plenty of fish in the sea."[/color]

Malachi ignored them, [color=5BA6F7] “Please come talk to me outside. If we cannot come to any agreement, I will find a way to get you home or I’ll let you run amuck as you please. I’ll stop bothering you and you’ll never see me again.“[/color]

Jun remained rooted to his seat. Malachi had his chance to [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5470643]'talk'[/url] this morning and nothing came out of it. All that stuff about 'trying to understand each other' and Malachi didn't even tell him a single thing about himself. He gaslighted Jun and that was that, end of discussion. If you were to summarize that 'heart-to-heart' in four words, it'd be: suck it up Jun.

[color=5BA6F7][i]“There’s been reasons to believe it’s real Jun. It’s just easier not to… It’s easier to believe this is all a game and everything here is an illusion than to accept that your reality has changed…”[/i][/color] No, it wasn't. None of the possibilities, 'real' or 'fantasy', made Jun's current situation any easier to accept. Both made him scared and feel so… alone. 

…

Oh… oh yeah.

… He's … alone. 

It didn't matter if this was a LARP cult or a bonafide isekai-tensei. The only people who ever really cared about Jun Ibuki were back home. Too many worlds away to get in touch—not by phone, not by letter, not even smoke signals—, leaving him marooned in a kind of loneliness he never experienced before.

Clutching himself tight, Jun fought off the tremors. He shook away the thoughts and refocused. 

It was obvious Malachi was saying all this to get Jun alone so it'd be easier to drag him away. And this time? He wouldn't put it past Malachi to lock him in an actual cage.

Even if what he said had an ounce of truth…
[color=5BA6F7][i]“You can’t go home, Jun…”[/i][/color]
[color=5BA6F7][i]“... I will find a way to get you home…”[/i][/color]
… then that meant Malachi really was the type who'd say just about anything. 

Jun had been more than clear about wanting to go home: everyone knew that. How many times did they have to have the same pointless chat before Malachi heard him? Jun wasn't gonna back down this time. He had to put his foot down. Maybe then he'd get taken seriously.

[color=LemonChiffon]"... No. I already told you… I just want to go home."[/color]

If Malachi meant what he said… then he'd find a way to get Jun home or, at the very least, let him go, no matter his answer.

Malachi silently stood there as he thought through his options, then finally slunk through the crowd and went outside the tavern.

[hider=TLDR]Malachi found Jun in the tavern. He tried to take Jun outside to talk, but Jun stood his ground. Malachi left the tavern without Jun.[/hider]