dissonates | Appointments Post

[From over yonder]

[ from here ]

[Asch glances aside, trying to ignore the expression on Luke's face. He hadn't wanted to have to deal with this kind of reunion. It was kind of the point of disappearing.]

I mean- what are you doing here? I've been excommunicated, remember? You shouldn't even be talking to me.

[from here]

[It takes a good deal of effort to stop himself from rolling his eyes.]

Is there a point to this redundant conversation, or are you just enjoying the sound of your own voice? Because unlike you, I have things to do today.

_{[ from over there ]}

_{[ Kirk gave Asch a dead pan look and sighed, rattling off the name of some noble - not to high, but high enough that he could afford a custom bike in this day and age. It was enough for Kirk. So long as they had the money, and didn't treat him like crap, he'd build for them. ]}

Yeah yeah. Jeeze, you act like I'm going to be dragging a group of chickens in after me too and a flea-ridden mutt to boot. Besides, I don't even think he's here yet since I don't see him - or hear him really.

From the look of you, I wouldn't say that a trailing mutt is inconceivable.

[Which is his nice version of "you look like a rat" or something. Still, a guest is a guest, and the name is a recognized customer.]

Your client isn't here yet, but after you've cleaned up I can take you to a private room to wait for him, if you wish.

_{[ He would have tossed him a rude hand sign, but he was a nice place
and he didn't need his client walking in right just then, did he? So he
settled for giving Asch an unimpressed look instead. ]}

Oh, do I get champagne and caviar while I wait?

_{[ He couldn't resist being sassy. It was just to much to ask him not
to shoot out at least one quip. ]}

[Wow. Wow. Maybe Asch would have to speak to his client and make sure he knew the sort of standards this club had about guests versus riff-raff.]

Guests of this establishment are free to order whatever they can afford, sir.

[Which isn't so much an insult as a challenge. Can you?]

And here I thought I was getting the V.I.P. treatment with the private room.

_{[ All right, maybe he had kind of wanted it to be true and get to live
it up for five minutes, but if it meant missing out on caviar he was fine.
It just sounded gross - fish eggs, ick. Give him the whole fish any time.
Champagne was to dry too. If he had to be fancy, he'd prefer a wine. ]}

So, bathroom, you were saying it's what direction?

The V.I.P. treatment is only on a tab when members are present. My apologies.

[He leads the way further in, finally gesturing to a little hallway.]

The restroom is that way. I'll take you to the suite once you're finished.

Oh, it's a suite now? Even fancier.

_{[ Sorry, Asch. Sass is an automatic reaction with him. It's a problem,
really, but what can you do? Thank dear old uncle... But that's not a story
anyone needs to hear. So he heads into the bathroom and to the sinks to try
and wash the left over grime from his fingers and catch any spots on his
face before he changed into a better shirt and made himself more
presentable.}

Never mind he might have gotten a few odd looks from other patrons. ]

[Sigh. He shouldn't have to put up with this. He shouldn't even be here today, he was going to take a day off after what happened the day before with his brother. Instead, he's babysitting the aforementioned brother's weird, greasy friends...

By the time Kirk comes out of the bathroom, Asch has fetched a tray with glasses and a fancy water pitcher. Fancy caviar or anything else can wait until the man's client arrives - and can vouch for him.]

Jeeze, you even making having to pour water some sort of affair.

_{[ He looked decent, at least, though he was by no means dressed like a
true gentleman. But he did his best, so give him credit for trying. ]}

Doesn't it ever get annoying? Don't you ever just a want a normal, plastic cup of water? Or, by God, a beer?

[He narrows his eyes in response.]

Actually, I was just about to ask why I saw you around our mansion the other day while I was by the lake. Any explanation?

((OOC: Let me know if that scenario should be changed, I just conjured it up seconds ago. ^^;;))

This is a gentleman's club. If you're looking for that sort of environment, you're welcome to visit a cheap bar downtown when you're finished here. I'm sure they'd be happy to serve you beer in a plastic cup.

[Ah.

So much for being subtle.]

Perhaps I was staking out the area. A ruffian like myself could make quite a lot of money from such wealthy neighbourhoods.

_{[ Again, he almost threw Asch a rude gesture, but restrained. ]}

Gentleman this, gentleman that. It's all a bit overrated if you ask me. Don't you get tired of being so uppity and having to remember to stick your pinky out? You have to let all that red hair down sometime, right?

No. No, I do not.

[Is his words - and the thinly veiled contempt in his tone - answer enough, Mr. Kirk?]

_{[ He can hear it. He deals with enough aristos on the bikes to know
all the little tones. ]}

Heh. One of these days I'll get you on a bike, and you'll change your tune. Everyone does when they get on one of my bikes.

Maybe if you truly belonged in those neighbourhoods.

[That earns him a glare.]

I belong. Just because I haven't accepted my position back doesn't mean I don't have as much right to be there as you.

...You must be joking. I'd rather walk everywhere the rest of my entire life than be caught on one of those death traps.

[It's been over two weeks now. While Guy's appreciated the time to get his thoughts and memories back together, the complete silence is starting to become... comfortable. It's not a surprise, but he finds himself bitterly disappointed in the God-General. How old was he, now? 20, maybe? 21? Definitely not the 17-year-old that had been on Auldrant, and yet he still ran like a child from uncomfortable situations.

It's a bit hypocritical to think of it, but there's no question in Guy's mind to why Asch is so bad at moving on.

Up until now, he had just waited, laying low and letting his mind pull itself back together. The importance of his half-hearted apology was still muddled, not more than a gut feeling. But the last couple days had finally given him a taste of what had really happened, and now... now he's all too aware why that feeling has bothered to stick so close to home. Why Asch was so cold and bitter, why their only conversation had been more of a series of attacks and dodges.

How else were you supposed to talk to someone who had killed you?

...

The more bitter temperatures have finally passed when Guy bothers to slip into Good Spirits for the evening. He knows that Buffy will recognize him - well, the "other" him, if this is the same Buffy from the year before - and he doesn't exactly want to make a show of this. He may not like Asch, but he's not out to take what little pride the guy might have left.

When the redhead is alone at the other end of the counter, guess who's grabbing a seat.]

You got a minute?

[He'd noticed Guy come in, of course; he notices everyone who comes into the bar, it's kind of his job. But Asch had been content to ignore their awkward new customer and leave serving him in Buffy's hands. The last time they'd spoken had been his arrival, which could have gone better, but... admittedly could have gone worse, too. He's still deciding which one he'd prefer, but he certainly hasn't felt compelled to attempt to summon Guy for a continuation of their talk. His feelings on the matter are endlessly complicated, and Guy...

...Well, he'd gotten the impression that something was still off. Still missing. And things had been different, yes - Guy had tried talking to him rather than mocking him and ignoring his existence, for one - but different didn't always mean good. Different meant he didn't know how things would go, and he was tired of having his expectations ruined, for better or worse. The best decision was to just... cut off contact. Ignore one another. Keep distant. At least that way he wouldn't feel so overwhelmed by the memory of... everything.

But now Guy's here, in his bar, sitting himself down and talking to him like he belongs there. Goddammit. Goddammit.

Asch glances aside uncomfortably, looking to Buffy to take over, and then (when she's either too busy or doesn't notice), focusing on wiping a towel over a freshly-cleaned glass.]

I'm not the only bartender here tonight. If you're here for a drink...

[He leaves the rest unsaid. He's almost certain that Guy isn't here for alcohol.]

Mmn? No thanks. I'll think on it for a bit.

[It's casually dismissive, ended with a bit of a sigh as he leans over to rest his arms against the bartop. He might be casually watching those around him, but his gaze flickers back to the redhead enough that he should know he's not being ignored.

After a moment (and a glance over at Buffy to make sure she's still occupied), he speaks up again, his voice a bit lower.]

I take it you haven't made up your mind.

[Asch glances around them - really, Guy wants to talk here, now? - and then finally lets his gaze drift back to Guy himself.]

...Or maybe I have, and my silence was your answer.

[It wasn't - or rather, he hadn't - but he's wondering if Guy considered that. And what his response might be.]

Appointments Post

[August 2013 Luceti Valley AU Event]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

Apologies for the super-duper lateness

no subject

s'all good

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

[Action, Nov. 26th]

[Action, Nov. 26th]

[Action, Nov. 26th]

[Action, Nov. 26th]