This is how we do it.

[talks_to_nisse]

Who: Emi and Sindre
When: 22 June, After hours
Where: Emi's restaurant
What: Two old friends catching up.

Comments

[salylimon]

To say the Emi was being productive would be nothing more than a horrible, good for nothing lie. Rather, instead of finishing her nightly chore of wiping everything down, she was instead perched on top the rickety yet tall and old stool she often kept in the far corner of the kitchen. Arms folded on top of the long table in the middle of the room, she buried her face between them, not wanting to move from her current position.

Today had been too long for her taste. Too long and stressful after a busy day at work and running into Willem earlier that night. Not that the encounter had been entirely bad; rather, it just brought back memories she often tried to forget about it.

Even though, if she were to consider the times Gilbert came to her drunk and crying over something or another since finding her again, forgetting about the past was an entirely difficult thing for her to do.

And now-

And now someone was knocking on the back door of the building. Briefly, she wondered if it was Manny with another job. Though he usually made sure to tell her beforehand. Or it could be Kai again. Or Gilbert. Or perhaps someone hear to rob or ambush her, regardless of how nonthreatening the knocking was.

Heaving herself off the chair (and after a mandatory pat down to make sure her knife was on hand), she carefully opened the door a smidgen of an inch to peek out before instantly relaxing. "Sindre, what are you doing here? Is something wrong? Did anything happen-?" Emi asked, opening the door to usher the blonde inside.

[talks_to_nisse]

Sindre forced a smile at Emi as she let him in. She looked as tired as he felt. Pulling out a chair, he sat down hard.

"Can't a guy stop by to see an old friend and maybe get a free meal with no ulterior motives?"

[salylimon]

Emi stared at the blond for a moment as she remained by the door. A second later and she heaved a small sigh before closing the door behind her.

"I'm beginning to get quite annoyed at the fact that everyone I know assumes they can waltz in here for a free meal," she commented dryly, arms crossed over her chest as she leaned her hip against the long counter top in the middle of the kitchen. "But how's about I feed you in exchange for you telling me why you're really here, sí?" Whether free or with only a discount was something she'd decide for herself in a bit.

[talks_to_nisse]

Sindre waved off the offer. "Ate already," he said in response. "'s just a joke." Which was true; he had eaten at some point today.

"'s really just a social call, honest," he told her. "'mean, I won't say I'm the happiest right now, but I just thought some company'd be nice. That's all."

[salylimon]

"You sure about that? 'Cause sometimes I think you're all skin and bones," she muttered, heaving herself on top of the stool beside him, legs carefully crossed as she regarded the blonde with a mild expression of concern. "In other words, I should repeat my earlier questions, hm?" Her hand reached out to prod gently at his arm

"Did something happen?"

[talks_to_nisse]

"You don't need to feed me," Sindre not quite answered. "I mooch off you often enough."

One hand reached up to touch at the bruises still present on his face. "I got jumped by a group," he said. "A kid helped me out. Still a little beat up."

[salylimon]

"Then at least let me take care of you," came the curt response as Emi slid off her stool, straightening her clothing as she dug around the kitchen for a moment for a spare piece of cloth. Quick to make her way toward the ice box, she wrapped the cloth around chunks of ice before making her way back toward Sindre.

Pressing the makeshift cold compress against his cheek, Emi nodded toward it. "Now, I can either hold this while you tell me everything that happened, or you can do it yourself like a big boy, yes?"

[talks_to_nisse]

Sighing, Sindre took the compress from her. "Some'a Thaddius' group jumped me yesterday. Dunno if they were actin' on orders, or if they're just stupid. Cut them up a good deal, but there was a lot of them and I got myself cornered. Some idiot kid stuck his neck out to help me, which I probably needed. He shot his gun off a few times, they ran off."

He shrugged a bit. "That's it. I ran into Berwald tonight, but that went as well as could be expected."

[salylimon]

"It's a good thing that idiot shot his gone, then. I'd hate for the last time I see you to be at your funeral. Especially when I'd look absolutely horrid wearing all black," Emi replied dryly, a mock expression of aristocratic pretentiousness overtaking her features for a brief moment before she sighed. "But speaking of idiots, you'd think that moron would stop trying to antagonize you after so long. Or perhaps I give him too much credit, I'm not sure."

[talks_to_nisse]

"Berwald doesn't try to antagonize me!" Sindre insisted. "It's only part his fault he's mad at me anyhow."

[salylimon]

"I didn't mean Berwald," Emi snapped back with a roll of her eyes as she made sure the ice hadn't begun melting too much yet. "But what happened between you two this time?"

[talks_to_nisse]

Rolling his eyes, Sindre retorted, "Well, Thaddeus antagonizes everyone. He's too stupid to do anything else. So what else was I to think you were asking about?"

His spark of ire went out after that, though, and he dropped his gaze. "He...found out about some of the worse jobs I've taken," he admitted. "And he didn't take kindly to them. An' then I just ran into him, but I'm clear not welcome near him, still."

[salylimon]

"Considering you're so worried over what's going on with Berwald, I shouldn't be surprised that you thought I was talking about him," she responded with a small huff before her expression softened somewhat.

"What did he say-?"

[talks_to_nisse]

Sindre shrugged half-heartedly. "Told me ta go, then grabbed me when I tried to leave. Dunno what he actually wants, but don't want him to jerk me around while he's workin' at it."

/oh hay short response orz

[salylimon]

"But will avoiding him help him figure out what he wants?" Emi asked after a brief pause.

/it is okayyyyy~~

[talks_to_nisse]

Scowling down, Sindre's shoulders took on a stubborn stance. "His overall message was go," he insisted. "I ain't gonna sniff around there like a puppy who can't find his mama while Berwald makes up his mind whether to call me back."