(Untitled)

[themanclion]

He'd been expecting this. He hasn't been able to go home (again) because of the state of his face (almost better but not quite) and he hasn't paid any cash money for his room and food...or drinks, which total more than the first two put together. So he just sighs when he gets the note and asks,

'Will this make us even?'

No reply from Bar. He could

Comments

[weplayparts]

Saffron can read the specials board from where she's sitting, and she's not entirely inclined to approach on giving him first consideration.

But she's itching for a drink, and the only other way around it is ordering from the waitrats.

She approaches on silent feet, seating herself down at the end of the bar just as quietly, and doesn't draw any attention to herself by making sudden movements.

Just sits, leaning against the bartop, one foot idly swaying while the other rests on a low rung of the stool.

[themanclion]

He looks over to her eventually, a good two minutes after being aware that she sat down. There's a sniff and he straightens, wanders over with an impassive look on his face. When he's opposite her he just leans on the back of the bar and crosses his arms.

'What d'you want?'

[weplayparts]

He's over here a lot earlier than she expected.

She points to the specials board.

"Do I even get a choice?"

[themanclion]

'No.'

But he doesn't move.

'I'm just tryin' to decide whether you're worth serving at all.'

[weplayparts]

"Well, by all means."

She leans forward, crossing her arms on the bar.

"Decide away."

She smelled his blood outside. And the blood of someone more familiar to her.

She can put two and two together.

[themanclion]

He continues to stare at her.

'You talk to your boyfrien' yet?'

[weplayparts]

There's a feigned surprise in her eyes, but it's hard to make out.

"And which boyfriend would that be, again?"

[themanclion]

He is so not in the mood to play this game with her. So he reaches out and picks up a bottle at random, pours her a shot. The writing on the bottle is distinctly alien and the liquid inside is brown and vaguely sludgy.

'There you go. A drink.'

[weplayparts]

She doesn't react, apart from a slight twitching of her nose.

"I'm serious. I don't have 'boyfriends'."

[themanclion]

'Does it look like I give a damn abou' your love life?'

It would be better if she did have boyfriends. Or one boyfriend, singular.

'Though I can' say I'm surprised. Never really hidden what a slapper you are, have you?'

[weplayparts]

"Enough to refer to whoever you're thinking of as my boyfriend," she coolly replies.

"Relationships are complicated. End of story."

[themanclion]

'No. They're not.'

He is pretty damn sure of this.

'Not for normal folk, anyway.'

[weplayparts]

"No?"

She nearly chuckles outright at that.

"Are you absolutely sure of that?"

She ignores the drink.

"Besides, I've already got all the commitment I can handle."

[themanclion]

'I'm the one who's married luv, reckon I know a darn sight more abou' it than you.'

And he snorts.

'You obviously don' know the firs' thing abou' commitment either, to anythin'. Jus' a waste of space, aren't ya?'

[weplayparts]

"Well, we can't all have as happy a marriage as you, can we?" she snaps back.

"Speaking as someone who was a wife once."

And maybe twice. Or three times.

[themanclion]

'Well, you ain' now, are ya?'

It's hissed over the bar, his eyes flashing anger.

'You ain't anythin'.'