Closed;

[unreadability]

[ Characters ] unreadability/Mireille, annealoncemore/Silver and later assassinskeeper/Ray
[ Location ] A clearing in the forest between Jamorrow and Childreams. Later Silver's and Ray's house.
[ Date/Time ] May 3rd, Noon/May 3rd, Evening
[ Warning ] Fighting and killing. Later lots and lots of drinking.
[ Content ] Two men and a woman AND YOUR MOTHER TOO. (Except not). First they fight,

Comments

SURPRISE TIMEJUMP

[annealoncemore]

[ even before they step fully into the house, Silver notices blood on the doorframe. Oh, that's classy decor right there. also, there's a distinct blood-smell wafting out from the house, just enough to be noticeable particularly if you're looking for it. It adds to the blood already clinging to them, a sickeningly coppery smell that surrounds them.

He lets himself inside nevertheless, assuming she'll follow, and sets down his stuff - bloodied and dirtied and all - by the front door. He and Ray aren't exactly the cleanest or tidiest of people (too busy drinking, to be honest) but even he won't trek more blood over his house than is necessary. ]

Ray.

[ said to Ray! Who is there! right? ]

[walkingtheweb]

[ Ray has just returned from hunting down the dress, but he pokes his head out from the other room at the sound of Silver's voice. ]

I'm here [ Said as he steps out into the main room. He notices Mirielle and feels a stab of embarrassment at the disheveled state of the house. Not that he cares usually, but having a lady over...]

Come in and wash up. [ He considers the pile coolly. The clothing will have to be washed, and burnt if the blood doesn't come out. No point in leaving evidence you can be traced by, even if such trace is unlikely here. ]

Mirielle, please, we have a bathing room, and I was able to procure something for you to change into...

[unreadability]

[She traces after Silver wordlessly, stopping in the doorway as he calls for Ray. The house is smaller than the one she shares with Jean Louis - and positively reeks of the fact that it's two bachelors living there. With a slight smile that doesn't reach her eyes, Mireille meets Ray's gaze.]

Thank you.

[Her muscles are still too stiff and her mind too blank. Trying to keep her face emotionless, she takes the dress Ray is handing her, heading towards the bathroom.]

[annealoncemore]

[ Ray, when did you get all gentleman-ly? For his part, Silver is sort of surreptitiously evaluating Ray in case he actually IS injured and just didn't tell him (aw, he cares) and, apparently satisfied, watches Mireille leave before realising that he, too, should probably change. ]

I'll be back.

[ ducks into one of the rooms to change pants! because ew, bloodstains. That's no way to treat the clothes Ray obviously picked out for him. ;) ]

[walkingtheweb]

[ Unlike some people, Ray has social skills. He nods in reaction to Silver going to change, and begins to busy himself with at least perfunctory cleaning. He at least had the sense not to get blood all over himself at least.

Laundry's going to be a nightmare

[ He's muttering to himself, as he washes out three not-at-all matching glasses, plunks them down on the table and drags over a third chair. He pauses briefly considering their not-insignificant liquor collection. He doubts Silver knows what Mirielle drinks, but he doesn't really want to ask her right now. With a shrug he pulls out the bottle of brandy and pours three generous glasses. It's a habit bordering on ritual. Someone dies by his or Silver's hand, they drink. It's just what they do. He sits and picks up his drink, staring at the liquid waiting for the others. ]

[unreadability]

[The dress is a size too small, but since it is longer, at least, than the one she has been wearing for knife lessons with Silver, it manages to fall just below her knees despite of it. Hanging her own dress up to dry, she leaves the bathroom, heading for and sitting down at the table without saying anything. Her mind is still too empty.

She fiddles with the glass of alcohol without really looking at it, glancing over at Ray. It occurs to her that this is the first time she meets him face to face. Yet, she has no energy for pleasantries.]

[annealoncemore]

[ when he returns to the room it is to see Mireille and Ray seated and, more importantly, brandy already poured. Ah, sweet. He looks briefly at Ray, his expression just the faintest bit quizzical. It's not that he's one for pleasantries or formality, but still - inviting someone to drink with them, so informally?

He supposes it's only the natural thing to do. Indeed, who doesn't need a drink after a good killing? Besides, there are some things you can't do together without growing very fond of each other. Like slaying cardsoldiers.

Silver raises his glass. ]

At least we can come home to this at the end of a day.

[walkingtheweb]

[ Ray watches Mirielle fiddle with her glass, all too aware that this is a painfully informal way to meet someone face to face for the first time. Not that he personally cared much about such fussy niceties, but he knew Mirielle would. And considering how shaken she looked already... ]

Drink. It will help take the edge off. [ He says it quietly, but with the weight of years of experience in his voice. It's part of why he drinks so much after all. Still, he gets over such things quicker, so he raises his glass with Silver. ]

And we've plenty more!

[unreadability]

[Observing the two men taking large swings of their glasses, Mireille tightens her grip on her own, lips forming a thin line. She has never been one to drink; a glass of wine for social propriety, surely - a sip of whiskey when her husband had company, too. But to drink, simply to... let go. Of what?

The lump in her throat is answer enough. She raises the glass unceremoniously and drinks. The liquid is warm and the burn soft. Nothing like Jean Louis' priced scotch.]

Father always drank brandy in the evenings.

[Her voice is soft; nostalgic but not bitter. The comment is aimed at no one in particular. Maybe just a reminder to herself.]

[annealoncemore]

[ there's something satisfying. about the vivid sting of brandy as it gushes down one's throat, the way it dances all the way down until finally settling somewhere in the stomach region. As if even when nothing else is real, this would still be real. It's one of the few constants in his - or anyone's - life.

Silver glances over at Mireille as she speaks, picking up the bottle in the meantime to re-fill his glass and Ray's. ]

Wise man.

[ said with a glance at Ray - after all, they both know it's the only logical way to live. ;) ]

[walkingtheweb]

[ Ray shoots Silver a glance that's both agreement and a bit of 'she's not like us though' ]

Indeed, wise man. Brandy's a wonderful drink for dulling the edges of a rough day.

[ With the implied 'and you've had a rough day so drink up'. ]

[unreadability]

[With a sigh, Mireille closes her eyes, tipping her head back to drown the rest of the drink in one go, ending up coughing from the sting of alcohol strongly evident in the aftertaste.

Catching the glance Ray shoots Silver, her features soften a bit. She has always felt more comfortable in the company of men than women. There's something much more straight-forward about it.]

If this is what you return to every night, you will never find suitable wives.

[annealoncemore]

[ he gives you that look in his icon. because... you can't talk about wives and stuff with Silver, you know, it would require him to have feelings. His expressions soften a bit, though - and he gets up from the table to pour a glass of water for Mireille. Wordlessly. And sort of looking a bit shifty, like he's hoping nobody notices he just did it.

Uh, anyway. back at the table. ]

Growing old alone... that doesn't bother me.

[ said with a raised glass and the implication of "not as long as I have THIS, anyway!" ]

[walkingtheweb]

[ Have a sputter snort from Ray at the wife comment cause he's totally gay y'know. He sets his glass down a bit heavier than he means to and rubs at his nose. Alcohol burns enough going down, he doesn't need it burning going up his nose. So yea, he more or less misses Silver refilling Mirielle's glass. ]

And who'd want to marry either of us anyway?

[unreadability]

[As Silver pours a glass of water for her, she watches him quietly - and it suddenly occurs to her that he was married once. Had a family. Swallowing heavily, she drowns the water as well, pushing the glass towards Ray after he is done coughing, implying that he is free to refill it once more if he so wishes. With something stronger, too.]

Don't be silly. You both make for interesting company.

[No, she's not the kind of girl to notice appearance as such. She has more class than that. Yes. As long as she's still mostly sober.]

[annealoncemore]

[ STOP COUGHING EVERYONE silver isn't nice enough to just get everyone water, you know! He gives a half-grunt half-snort at Mireille's words, a very quiet and subtle sound, made a bit harsher by the fact that the alcohol is starting to get to him. ]

Most women are too...

[ he doesn't quite finish the sentence, ending it with a small shake of his head instead. It's unclear whether he can't finish because he doesn't have the right word, or because he has too MANY words - too noisy? too irritating? to scared of blood?

Either way. He has his gay best friend. It's enough. ]