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ioduanlogs2018-07-07 10:11 pm
bestofthevein) wrote in ioduanlogs2018-07-07 10:11 pm
Entry tags:
[closed-ish] July catch-all
Characters: Kit + others
Date: throughout July
Location: Around Aifaran
Situation: a catch-all log for July! I won't be posting any open prompts, but if you’d like a specific starter, DM me here, ping me on plurk @ ragweed, or on discord @ middlemarching#9936.
Warnings/Rating: None currently, will update as needed.
I. Drink to forget? (closed to Zephyr)
It is an especially hot and humid night that finds Kit--and, presumably, Zephyr--drinking together on the dingy veranda of a waterfront bar, talking--or not--over a game of cards. The night has gotten away from Kit somewhat, but he feels no pressure to pick himself up and find his way back to the Bridge; the Dreaming has seen fit to make it impossible for him to get a good night’s rest.
All the more reason to ignore the time displayed on his yimo, and to deal another hand.
He tucks a lit cigarette into the corner of his mouth and gathers up the cards that are spread across their table, shuffling them again. “All right,” he decides, quirking a crooked smile, “this time I won’t go easy on you, salroka.” The games Kit knows are simple, even if they have journeyed with him to this place from a foreign dimension; the basics of how to gamble don’t seem to change much between universes.
II. I didn't want this stupid thing anyway (Justice 2; closed to Konoe)
"Fine, take the damn thing. I didn't want it in the first place."
The Bresilykian Sentry (who now has hold of the defunct metal detector that had been foisted off onto Kit the previous month) does not look at all impressed by the lip being given to him by the scowling dwarf standing before him. He lifts a finger. "This is your last warning, Gandir," he says sternly. "One more misstep, and there will be consequences."
It's a dire-sounding warning, but if it instills anything beyond increased aggravation in Kit, it's hard to say. His gaze remains hard as the Sentry leaves, but once he rounds the busy street corner and is gone from sight, Kit breathes out and chafes a hand against his jaw. It's good to be rid of the piece of garbage, but now he just wishes he could track down the merchant who insisted he purchased it in the first place, and give the guy a piece of his mind.
Instead, he leans back against the wall and lights a cigarette. A few minutes later, it starts to rain.
Typical.
Date: throughout July
Location: Around Aifaran
Situation: a catch-all log for July! I won't be posting any open prompts, but if you’d like a specific starter, DM me here, ping me on plurk @ ragweed, or on discord @ middlemarching#9936.
Warnings/Rating: None currently, will update as needed.
I. Drink to forget? (closed to Zephyr)
It is an especially hot and humid night that finds Kit--and, presumably, Zephyr--drinking together on the dingy veranda of a waterfront bar, talking--or not--over a game of cards. The night has gotten away from Kit somewhat, but he feels no pressure to pick himself up and find his way back to the Bridge; the Dreaming has seen fit to make it impossible for him to get a good night’s rest.
All the more reason to ignore the time displayed on his yimo, and to deal another hand.
He tucks a lit cigarette into the corner of his mouth and gathers up the cards that are spread across their table, shuffling them again. “All right,” he decides, quirking a crooked smile, “this time I won’t go easy on you, salroka.” The games Kit knows are simple, even if they have journeyed with him to this place from a foreign dimension; the basics of how to gamble don’t seem to change much between universes.
II. I didn't want this stupid thing anyway (Justice 2; closed to Konoe)
"Fine, take the damn thing. I didn't want it in the first place."
The Bresilykian Sentry (who now has hold of the defunct metal detector that had been foisted off onto Kit the previous month) does not look at all impressed by the lip being given to him by the scowling dwarf standing before him. He lifts a finger. "This is your last warning, Gandir," he says sternly. "One more misstep, and there will be consequences."
It's a dire-sounding warning, but if it instills anything beyond increased aggravation in Kit, it's hard to say. His gaze remains hard as the Sentry leaves, but once he rounds the busy street corner and is gone from sight, Kit breathes out and chafes a hand against his jaw. It's good to be rid of the piece of garbage, but now he just wishes he could track down the merchant who insisted he purchased it in the first place, and give the guy a piece of his mind.
Instead, he leans back against the wall and lights a cigarette. A few minutes later, it starts to rain.
Typical.
I
He's never quite bothered to ask what salroka means. It doesn't sound like an insult, the way Kit says it, and that's good enough.
He shrugs, rolling his shoulders, and tucks a leg up under him, shifting his weight so he doesn't get too stiff in the chair. It's been a longish night. Pleasant; but long. "Go on and deal, bud. I'm not going anywhere. Bring it."
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"Really?" He smiles around his cigarette, reshuffling the cards before deftly dealing another hand. "Surprised you're willing to put up with me when I'm wiping the floor with you like this." There's a friendly glitter in his eye when he says that; he's kidding! (Mostly.)
When a server comes by to refill their drinks, Kit nods once at him before glancing Zephyr's way. "Want another?" Whether he does or not, Kit keeps dealing the cards; he's got at least one more round in him, and Zephyr has turned out to be good company.
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It's big talk. He can't help himself.
He shakes his head at the latter. "Nah, this is fine." His first drink is more than half-empty, but he's still nursing it, and he doesn't like to get too drunk.
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"Hey, I like a challenge."
Maybe it's just a trick of the dim lighting on this patio, but Kit's eyes linger on that lazy grin for a second or two, before he looks back to his drink and brings it up for a sip. Doing so gives his gaze time to wander out across the foggy waterfront, to where the derelict Narrakra is now moored in the harbour.
Its return has cast a grim pall across everything--even lazy evenings out with friends. Kit drums a finger against the tabletop. "What a month, huh?" he remarks, attempting to say so with a bit of a smile.
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He rearranges his cards again, nods to the table. And sighs. "Yeah, what a month. I mean, we haven't had to fend off some kind of monster attack yet, but at this point it's only a matter of time, right?"
It's weird. He hadn't entirely expected this place to be a respite, but there's something disappointing about the same problems following from place to place.
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What a shame. But he's here more for the company, anyway. "Hey, at least you have beaches, right? If there's going to be some kind of trouble, you may as well enjoy the nice parts while you're at it. Nice scenery, good company." That might be a bit presumptuous, but whatever, he and Kit have been companionable enough.
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He grins and collects up the cards. "Can't win 'em all," he says. Then that comment catches his attention.
Maybe it shouldn't; Kit has enjoyed many a personable evening out with genial acquaintances before, and it hadn't always lead to places other than back to the bar for a refill. Sometimes it had, though.
"Good company, huh?" He reaches up to take hold of his cigarette, then taps the excess ash off into a tray on the table. He glances across at Zephyr with his eyebrows raised, smiling a little. (He's easy come, easy go about these things; won't wound his pride any if he's wrong about his hunch.)
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Kit's a decent guy. There's probably a proper friendship brewing in here somewhere. Zephyr's going to try his best not to have a crisis about that, because he can practically feel the girls beating him over the head with it. "I mean, unless I've got the wrong idea and you're not having fun taking me for all I've got." The smile's a tiny bit brittle, but it's real.
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"I mean, unless I've got the wrong idea and you're not having fun taking me for all I've got."
Kit laughs again and drops his eyes to consider the burning end of his cigarette. He brings it up for a drag, blows the smoke off to the side, then shrugs one shoulder. "Sure I am," he replies, then glances up at Zephyr again; he doesn't lose his smile but seems to deliberate over something for a moment or two. Then he leans in a little.
"I just wondered which one I was, is all. Good company, or good scenery."
A little extended eye contact, some raised eyebrows--does he get it now?
he's being gay at you zephyrno subject
He likes Kit well enough; there's good banter, and fun games, and it feels like it could be a really easy friendship. He's... not entirely sure why Kit is asking if he's pretty. (That is what Kit's doing, right? Mostly it was Sara and Kana doing that, so Zephyr's just a little bit out of his depth here, but yeah, okay, Kit's handsome enough.)
Zephyr raises his eyebrows right back, though his are more faintly confused than suggestive. "Can't you be both?"
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An easy shrug. Kit fiddles with the end of his cigarette, eyeing it. "For you, I'm prepared to be," he says, before glancing up again. He smiles a little crookedly, and, "For a couple hours, anyway."
He takes another puff off his cigarette while he waits.
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Zephyr is not the most stupid man in the world. He can read some situations. In this case he finally puts some meaningfulness to Kit's smile and words conjoined.
"Um," Zephyr says aloud, poleaxed. (Allen, says his heart. Allen who Zephyr in no way deserves.) "...do you get more handsome?"
This is, it must be said, a buyer of time.
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Kit cracks a grin and chuckles, ducking his head. "Sorry, salroka, I think this is as good as it gets," he says, still smiling. Absently, he taps the excess ash off the end of his cigarette again, then watches the man across from him, considering.
...truthfully, he knows a delaying tactic when he spots one, having utilized it himself occasionally. (And if he knew the reasons why, maybe his own heart would clench a little, too. Vandelin, who Kit also, in no way, deserves.)
"Hey," he begins, lifting a hand and sounding a little apologetic, "if I put you on the spot..." He trails off.
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...well, Zephyr might have to actually face whatever his emotions are doing, now that Kit's calling him on it. He sighs, shoves a hand back through his hair, and thinks about it. Really thinks about it, mortal Kit and his clever fingers and quick smile and the way he has of taking Zephyr for everything he's got.
"Don't think there's any way to be with that, but on the spot," Zephyr says casually, waving the apology off. "No, it's-- I'm kind of a mess, buddy, I don't know what I'm doing here." Pause. Shit, that came out wrong. "I mean-- you're good people. That's not the thing." Why does anyone let him talk? Right, no one's here to hit him over the head when he's gone too far.
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"...I mean--you're good people. That's not the thing."
"Oh yeah?" If his crooked little smile is anything to go by, he's not offended by Zephyr's gaff--maybe endeared by it a little. Still, he can't stop himself from absently scratching at his beard a little; this is usually when the 'it's not you, it's me' spiel arrives, and he finds himself preparing for it. He waves his cigarette-wielding hand in a little aimless gesture. "I mean, it's all right. You don't," another little gesture, "owe me an explanation, or anything. It's fine."
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He lets his breath out slow and rolls into it. "I'm coming out of a hell of a mess, back home," he says bluntly. "And I'm pretty dumb about some things." This is an understatement, he thinks. "Have you been thinking about this for a while? Am I just-- really, really confused?" He just wants to know how much he's missed, okay.
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He looks back at him with some added softness in his eyes. "I get it, though. Things being a mess. I cocked things up royally back where I'm from before I--" Before I died. No, that's probably not what Zephyr wants to hear right now, is it? He scratches at his beard and looks away. "...Before I ended up here."
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He's... not actually surprised by his own failures on that front.
He leans over, rests his forehead on the table with a brisk thump. "Yeah," he says. "Same."
The soul of eloquence.
But they have been drinking, and the night is no longer young, and Zephyr honestly doesn't know what the hell he wants, here and now. "Ask me again another time," he says into the table, sounding more pathetic than he means to.
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Well. Was a hot mess. Truthfully, this is the only life he's got left, now.
"Sure will," he says to the top of Zephyr's head where he still remains slumped against the table. A moment later and he adds, chuckling, "Might even buy you a drink first, before I take you to the cleaners playing cards."
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There's a point at which he's just being a chicken, though. Zephyr breathes a sigh out against his cards, and sits up, offering Kit a sheepish if genuine smile. "...Hey. Thanks."
He doesn't specify for what. There's a lot of different kind of thanks in there, really.