41 - There's a monster on the loose

[seeya_next_life]

Hey, chief, Stoneface, I meant to make a report earlier, but I was a little [pause] distracted. By now I assume you've heard Kagerou was killed, but it bears mentioning that she was killed by a monster from Crystala. And she wasn't on Crystala. In fact, I didn't find her anywhere near the bridge--she was along the southeastern bend on the coast

Comments

Re: Quicklog

[seeya_next_life]

[Lea hadn't even realized he'd left the apartment until he was halfway down the street. He was still sort of waiting for the pain to hit him, waiting for the numbness to fade, waiting for... well, something. Anything, really. Was this what grief felt like? This strange and solemn heaviness? This peculiar sensation like something was just pressing down on his sternum and slowly crushing him? Wasn't it supposed to hurt?

Maybe he just wasn't practiced at this. Every emotion seemed to be sort of diluted, regardless of what was going on. He watched the way Nova smiled with her whole face, the way Rosalind threw her whole self into her passion for science, the way Toushi thrilled when he sparred, the way Smoke's entire soul laughed when he did... Lea was pretty sure he'd never felt anything half that potently. He understood happiness, he could appreciate passion, he certainly knew a good time when he was feeling one, and he was no stranger to laughter, but there was a concentration to the emotions of his friends that he was never able to wrap his head--or his heart--around. Even grief was no exception. Toushi had nearly broken when they had lowered Kagerou's body into the ground, but all Lea had felt was a sort of detached numbness, like maybe he was somewhere outside his own body watching this happen. But then, after seeing the way Toushi had sagged in his own bones, like the weight of the entire world was now pressing on his shoulders, perhaps there was a little blessing in that detachment.

He wasn't sure. But somehow or another, he found himself moving toward Smoke's bar. He'd said he would be dropping by, either way; Grift was a good guy. And he knew he cared for Kagerou as well. Lea wasn't any good at solace or comfort or consolation, but there was a kind of comfort in company either way.

A voice broke through his thoughts suddenly, sharply, and he turned with an audible inhale. Wow, he must have been really out of it. Good thing it was just Cloud and not someone who was, you know, interested in killing him or anything. That could have ended badly otherwise.]

Oh. Hey. [He absently scratched his cheek with one fingertip, cracking a hint of a watery grin.] You ah... startled me.

Re: Quicklog

[iattractmushi]

[Cloud raised an eyebrow at Lea's reaction--he hadn't been trying to sneak up on him.] ...sorry. [That's what he'd written in the journal--'I'm sorry'. He hadn't known what else to say, but it seemed even more useless now, facing Lea in person...] Were you headed somewhere?

[He paused for a second, considering Lea's wan smile and haunted expression. Unsurprising, considering what happened today, but still... it had to be said.] You look like hell, by the way.

Re: Quicklog

[seeya_next_life]

[Lea shook his head.] Don't be sorry. [It was his own damn fault, really, spacing out like that. And Cloud had already apologized once today, for things that surely hadn't been any fault of his. Kagerou was dead, and Lea was pretty damn sorry about that, too. He shook his head again.] Not... really? Ah... [Okay, he was stammering. That wasn't like him at all. He cleared his throat and shoved his hands in his pockets.] I was just gonna drop by the bar. That's what you do when somebody you care about dies, right? [A bitter half-chuckle grates from his throat.] You go drink your sorrows away, or however it goes?

[A pause at Cloud's assessment, and then he barked a genuine laugh.] You know, that's something I've always really liked about you, Cloud. [He clapped him lightly on the shoulder before withdrawing his hand, recalling how Cloud had seemed uncomfortable under contact that night in the park.] You always seem to know just what to say. [He nods his head, his eyes no less haunted, but his shoulders a little less heavy.] Wanna come with? I hear drinking alone is bad for the liver.

Re: Quicklog

[iattractmushi]

[Cloud hummed under his breath, considering Lea.] That's one way to do it. [His voice was neutral, neither approving nor disapproving... it wasn't exactly the healthiest way to cope, but hell. That was Lea's decision. And it wasn't like he hadn't done the exact same thing himself once or twice.]

[He smiled faintly as Lea clapped him on the shoulder. Taking a moment to consider Lea's invitation, he nodded, shoving his hands into his pockets.] ...sure, why not. I'll come along. [If only to make sure Lea got back to his house safely when the night was over... he would stick to drinking only juice or water tonight.]

Quicklog

[seeya_next_life]

[Lea actually wasn't much of a drinker, which probably didn't exactly work in his favor in this situation. Working in a bar, one had a few drinks from time to time, but one also saw what happened to those who chose to imbibe more than just a few, and Lea had never liked what he saw. His own actions were one of the few things he had control over in this place, and he wasn't too interested in losing control of those. He was already feeling pretty numb, though, so... surely a drink or two couldn't hurt.

He closed his hand around the door handle and tugged it open, poking his head in and spotting Grift in a booth in the corner after a moment of searching. He waved wanly, then stepped inside, noting that Grift's eyes narrowed a bit as Cloud stepped inside after him. He supposed it was kind of cheating to have the bar be closed for a grieving period or... whatever this was called... and bring a guest anyway, but grieving alone was somehow worse, so maybe Grift would forgive him this.

Actually, Grift seemed a little off, himself, and it didn't seem like the kind of thing that would have been related to the death of an employee, either. He was dressed all in black, which wasn't terribly odd--Lea himself tended to dress in that fashion--but Grift tended to vary his colors a bit more. Plus he was wearing a hat and gloves and a long, heavy coat... which WAS a bit odd, especially since it had been a warm day, and it had bled into an equally tepid evening.

How interesting. Well, he had originally intended on the three of them perhaps having a few rounds together, since Grift had been the one to initially indicate he didn't mind the company, but Lea wasn't so sure now that Grift wanted company at all. Maybe he and Cloud would just... meander up to the card desk. Grift made a vague motion that mostly indicated that Lea could help himself to the bar, and the redhead moved quickly to do so, suddenly sort of feeling like perhaps he was intruding. Well, Grift HAD invited him, and he HADN'T said he wasn't allowed to bring a friend, so he wasn't really out of line. But if Grift was going to be grumpy, he wasn't about to press his luck. Not today. His luck had been plenty bad already.

Tilting his head to indicate they were headed up to the second floor, Lea glanced at Cloud, then moved for the stairs, a bottle of that strange rice wine Cloud had seemed so fond of in his grip. He paused at the bottom of the steps and frowned, holding up the bottle.]

This is the stuff you liked, right? All those fancy foreign lookin' drinks look the same to me. [His grin ached a little.] S'why I play cards instead of pour drinks.

Quicklog

[iattractmushi]

[[ooc: Derp, forgot this was happening during the Sin event... Cloud's tattoos look like this. God, worst time ever to go for a drink with him and I'm sorry I didn't post this sooner |D]]

[Cloud gave Grift a friendly nod as Lea helped himself to the bar, stuffing his red-spattered hands into his pockets... not that that helped any. He couldn't hide his face.

He followed Lea readily enough, only pausing to make sure they had two cups. He nodded, eying the bottle a little wryly--so much for his decision to have only water tonight.

...well, it wasn't like he was going to get drunk on sake. Though he would have to see about buying some food eventually, for Lea as well as himself.] That's right. It's pretty good--I've always liked the flavor.

Quicklog

[seeya_next_life]

[Lea had certainly noticed the marks on Cloud's face, but hadn't really given them much thought. It was pretty obvious the spontaneous tattoos were supposed to represent something, but he really couldn't figure what the lines over Cloud's lips meant any more than he could figure the significance of the numbers on his own neck. He'd seen the bloody marks on Cloud's hands, and for a moment had thought he'd hurt himself, before he realized the blood didn't smear. They were tattoos, too.

Giving the bottle of sake a slightly dubious look, Lea held up the two sakazuki--he had never imbibed anything out of a... saucer before--and then headed up the stairs. Setting everything down on the cardtable, he took a seat, automatically plucking his deck of cards from the little pocket on the side of the table and shuffling them absently for a moment before opening the bottle of wine and carefully attempting to pour some into the two little saucers.]

So I'm not sure if I should say a toast, perhaps to giving in to stereotypical coping methods, or just say screw trees, bottoms up.

[His usual sarcasm is there in his tone, but there's something particularly bitter in his voice tonight.]

Quicklog

[iattractmushi]

[Cloud was mildly curious about the tattoos that had appeared on Lea's neck, but probably the other man had no idea what they meant... and they were much less obvious than his own.

He waited patiently until Lea had carefully poured the sake and claimed one of the cups for himself. Then he reached over and took the other one, lifting it in a sketchy salute.] 'Screw trees' isn't a bad toast, for this place.

[He took a sip of sake. Setting his cup down on the table, he leaned back in the chair, regarding Lea calmly. The bitter tone was unsurprising, but Cloud found himself speaking in a slightly more gentle tone than he normally would, in response to it. He had died, and people had grieved for him... he had never lost anyone he cared for. He knew he would someday; he liked too many people, and death was a part of things here too, even though this place twisted it. So his gaze wasn't unsympathetic as he said,] ...were we going to play cards, too?

Quicklog

[seeya_next_life]

[He lifts his cup then and gives a wan grin.] Screw trees, then. Let's drink to firewood, mulch, and sawdust. [And with that he throws back the sake, and then physically jolts, startled by the sheer fire of the drink. He manages to refrain from actually coughing, but it's definitely stronger than he expected it to be. Thumping his chest with one fist, Lea forbade his eyes to water, and instead poured himself another. Surely it just took a little getting used to. He'd had a few drinks in his day, and they were always a little harsh the first time.

He glanced up at Cloud, then back down at the cards in front of him.]

Oh. Just habit, I guess. I don't like having idle hands. [He gives a helpless sort of chuckle.] I'm a fidget, you could say--I've always gotta be drumming my fingers or shuffling cards or something. If I've got nothing in my hands I fold my arms; I hate having empty hands. [Maybe that was why he wielded dual weapons--if he didn't have something in both hands, he felt unbalanced. A pause, and he lifted his eyebrows.] Wanna try your luck? [He raised his right hand in a mock oath.] I solemnly swear not to cheat.

Quicklog

[iattractmushi]

[At Lea's reaction to the sake, Cloud smothered a chuckle hastily--it came out sounding more like a strangled cough. He hadn't expected the other man to drink it all at once like that--sake was something you savored, and drank more slowly than that.] To toothpicks, then, [he murmured, grinning, and sipped from his cup again.]

No cheating, huh... well. A promise like that, how can I refuse? [His grin turned into a slight smirk, and he leaned his elbows on the table on either side of his cup.] Blackjack again? That way you won't have to take the time to teach me a new game.

Quicklog

[seeya_next_life]

I'll drink to that. [His voice is a little strained, and it's obvious he still hasn't quite recovered, but he's trying. He clears his throat and gives the cards another shuffle.]

Blackjack it is, then. Here, we can play a slightly different style now that you know the ropes a little better. I don't really have anything worth betting, though, so... this game's just for bragging rights, okay?

[He deals them each one card face down, and then one face up--a seven of diamonds for Cloud, and then a five of spades for Lea.] Any future hits are played facedown, but that one card remains face-up. It doesn't really tell anybody anything too useful unless it's a face card, but when someone gets an ace dealt face-up, that tends to make thing a bit more interesting.

[He takes another sip of the sake, still surprised by how strong the flavor is, and then gives Cloud an expectant look.] So what's it gonna be?

Quicklog - keywords very appropriate

[iattractmushi]

[Still grinning a little at Lea's reaction to the drink, Cloud nodded.] Sounds good. [Despite his luck the last time they played, Cloud didn't really think he'd win his third game of cards. So he was just as happy that Lea didn't want to bet anything on the outcome of the game.

He peeked beneath his face-down card--a two of hearts. Hmmmm.] I see. [He tapped the table, asking for another card. He'd have to get a better number than nine if he was going to have a chance of winning the hand.

Sipping from his own cup slowly as he waited for Lea to deal the next card, Cloud considered asking the red-head if there was anything he could do to help... but he decided not to in the end. He was just here to make sure Lea got home alright. He didn't need to start poking around in someone else's business like that.]

osnap! then i guess i'll have to use my appropriate keyword icon as well

[seeya_next_life]

[Sliding another card across the table to Cloud, Lea takes a look at his own card, the ace of diamonds. Well, nobody won a hand with six. Or sixteen, for that matter. So he deals himself a second card as well--ooh, the four of spades--then took another sip of sake before resting his chin in his palm and furrowing his brow at Cloud.]

So. Any unexpected memory crystal accidents lately?

[It's not as random as it sounds. Lea had been considering talking to Cloud about the real purpose of the Gingers Club (or, as Toushi preferred to call it, The League of Extraordinary Gingermen featuring Nova and Kager... oh. Well, he wasn't changing the title. Anyway!) for a while now, and so far as he could tell, this was as good a time as any.]

Quicklog

[iattractmushi]

[Cloud moved the new card over to where the others were, then peeked under it carefully. One of the face cards; a Q and a spade marked this one. So that made nineteen... if he asked for another, there was a very small chance he'd get a two or an ace, and a slightly higher chance Lea might not have a higher number right now... asking for another card would be risky, and there wasn't anything riding on this game.

At Lea's question, he looked up from pondering his options with a raised eyebrow.] I haven't found a single crystal since that time in the park. Why?

[He finished what was left of his sake while waiting for Lea to answer, reaching for the bottle and pouring the last of the clear alcohol into his cup.]

Quicklog

[seeya_next_life]

Just curious. [He looks down at his cards again, then back at Cloud as the other man polishes off the last bit of sake from the bottle. Oh, gone already? Why were the bottles so damn small?] I'll go grab us another. [And before Cloud can protest (or approve), he's up and headed down the stairs. He returns a moment later with another bottle of the same sake, and a second bottle of a different type, looking a little confused. He sets the bottles down and then frowns expectantly at one of them, like he's waiting for it to talk.] I can't read any of this. But I liked the label on this other one. [He twists the cap off and pours himself some, then tastes it experimentally. It's not quite as fiery as the first one, and a little sweeter.

Glancing up at Cloud again, he tilts his head.] And I just wondered. I've saved my old used crystals, I guess I just wondered if you needed any spares to try things out on. [His grin is wry--he's obviously not serious. He points at his cards then.] Hit or stay?

Quicklog - lol, I researched this ridiculously much

[iattractmushi]

[Lea was gone before Cloud could offer to go himself--he wanted to get some food, for both of them. But... well, one more bottle probably won't hurt.

When he saw that Lea had brought two fresh bottles he looked faintly surprised, though he hid it quickly. Picking up the bottle Lea had poured from, he peered at the label.] Aside from things like the brand name, I think, this one says it's Hanjozo. The other one's apparently Junmai. That's the kind of sake they are, I guess. [Cloud didn't exactly know what those words meant, but since it looked like Lea didn't mind drinking something he couldn't read the name of, Cloud wouldn't worry about it.

His own cup was still full, so Cloud set the bottle back down without pouring any for himself.] Haven't given that much thought, actually... I'm still a little wary about doing anything to them, even if they've been used. [He sipped from his cup slowly.] Unless you had an idea you wanted to try out? [He shook his head, and sipped again.] Stay.