(Untitled)

[shall_go_free]

The front door opens, and Xas steps through, hair a little disheveled and sunglasses hanging lightly from one hand.

Someone was driving with the top down, apparently.

The city noises fade behind him as the door closes, and he heads over to Bar to get a glass of wine.

There's a particular vintage he's been missing, of late.

Comments

[un_fallen]

Someone else is having a glass of wine, just a few stools over. Raguel raises his a bit and offers a hint of a smile. Good mood, after all.

"Think you're rubbing off on me," he says.

[shall_go_free]

Xas smiles back, lifting his own glass to his lips and taking a slow swallow.

"I don't think I would mind that, were it the case."

[un_fallen]

"I do drink wine when you're around," he insists.

He does think he's probably missed something, and he considers it a narrow escape.

[shall_go_free]

Xas' tongue swipes briefly over his lips, catching a stray wine droplet.

"I'd noticed. Is it a horrible breach of custom for you?"

[un_fallen]

"Not really. Well." He reconsiders, contemplating the glass for longer than should really be necessary.

"Yeah, I guess, but I only drink the other because it's what I do, you know? And it's really good, don't get me wrong. But I'm probably missing out, not trying everything I can."

[shall_go_free]

Xas smiles slowly, soft laughter following close behind.

"Oh, I quite agree. I know there are certainly I few things I wouldn't mind introducing you to--to broaden your horizons, as it were."

[un_fallen]

"Yeah?" he says, after a moment's hesitation.

Somewhat more hopefully, if quietly, "...drinks?"

[shall_go_free]

"That will do for a beginning, I imagine."

His smile, though, is a little wry as he looks at Raguel.

[un_fallen]

"Yeah," he replies, looking at the bar.

"Wine was a good beginning, I thought."

[shall_go_free]

Better than apples, certainly.

Xas frowns, leaning a little closer.

"Did I say something--wrong?"

[un_fallen]

He looks up, startled.

"No, not at all. I was just thinking."

He looks as though he's going to elaborate, then changes his mind and shrugs.

[shall_go_free]

"Shall I offer you a penny, then?"

He smiles a little.

A very little.

[un_fallen]

"Seems like there should be something between the beginning and the ending. You know? Not that it's the ending, of course."

He doesn't sound quite convinced.

[shall_go_free]

"There generally is, Raguel."

Xas frowns.

"It's called 'the middle', and it generally seems to go on forever. Or so I've heard tell."

That last is a bit hastily added.

[un_fallen]

"So you've heard?" he repeats, looking intrigued.

Or maybe he's just changing the subject.

[shall_go_free]

"Well."

Xas' smile quirks.

"It's rather more like 'I have this friend who--'. I assume you're familiar with the phenomenon?"