epidemiology | [CLOSED]

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[CLOSED]

CHARACTERS: Shizuo and assorted Cool Dudes
DATE: Various points of time over the course of this mission
WARNINGS: Shizuo bein his mildly dense and angry self occasionally ig...otherwise hopefully n/a
SUMMARY: Catch-all log for various interactions during Perdition's Rest!

[The following threads are closed! If you'd like to set something up, though, feel absolutely free to hit me up either by PM or at

hollyjolley!]

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[This newest gift had cropped up somewhere between the team's transit to Perdition's Rest and moving into the settlement itself. Shizuo's not entirely sure if he's ever going to get entirely used to waking up and finding completely random objects or articles of clothing suddenly in his room where they hadn't been before, but at the very least he's getting better at guessing where the hell they're actually coming from now. He really needs to hit up this Lloyd guy one of these days...he's not even entirely sure what he would say if he did, but. Surely one ought to respond somehow to unsolicited gifts, right?

Well, but that's beside the point. The point is that this time around Shizuo finds an entire hair dyeing kit, even complete with some kind of bleach treatment--that Lloyd guy has outdone himself yet again, and Shizuo doesn't know whether to feel more appreciative or exasperated about it. But the fact remains that the timing really couldn't be better; he's lost track of the exact amount of time he's been on this ALASTAIR business, but his hair certainly hasn't, and it shows in the roots. Not terribly egregious now, but in another week or two...it might have started to be a bit of a problem.

There's pretty decent stretches of fairly peaceful downtime in this place, and the saloon where most of Audentes has now taken residence boasts functional communal bathrooms as part of the facilities, so Shizuo doesn't have much difficulty with finding an opportunity to nip the aforementioned root problem in the bud. He can be found fairly early in the morning, bereft of his usual waistcoat and bowtie and sunglasses for once in favor of just his shirt and slacks, commandeering one of the bathroom sinks with an assortment of bottles and containers and brushes. There's a towel slung loosely around his neck, and his hair is parted in neat sections by an assortment of clips.]

Ah, sorry--gonna be here for a bit. [By the time there's a sound of somebody pushing open the door, Shizuo's already too deeply preoccupied to immediately note who it might be. He's leaning over the sink, eyes remaining fixed on the mirror as he speaks, dabbing at his roots with a small brush in hand.] Might as well use another sink if you're going to.

[Man, this is the problem with a communal bathroom, people coming in and out...but oh well. Still better than no bathroom at all, probably, and this would probably be a pain in the ass to try doing with like. A river stream or something...he'll take it.]

[As far as saloons go, this one is pretty alright. Well, as if Shizuo has ever been to this particular kind of saloon in his life--he hasn't--but he was behind a bar for a long time, at the very least, so there's some vague frame of reference to be had anyway. Every now and then there's still some local ribbing at the expense of his bartender's suit, which Shizuo still staunchly refuses to change out for something a bit more generally local...but apart from that, it's not really too bad at all. The drinks range from weird as hell to decent, and the music's alright, and between the fairly jovial locals and the assortment of passing ALASTAIR members the atmosphere tends to be friendly enough.

So Shizuo does his fair share of dropping by and grabbing a table for a drink every now and then in the evenings--a feat made all the easier by living literally a floor above the facilities in the first place. Most of the time he tends to keep to himself, too, using these small bubbles of time to wind down with a reasonable confidence that his temper isn't going to be inadvertently trodden on somehow. But every now and then there's a familiar face...like now, right after picking up a drink for himself and drifting around in search of a free chair.

Riza's light complexion and hair register first, in contrast to the predominantly Quorral attendance, before familiar features sink in. Shizuo pauses, and then steers in her direction; bumping into Riza has never been a particularly unpleasant affair, after all, and a very faint but pleased smile slips on his features as he approaches.]

Oh, Riza, hey. I don't think I've actually seen you in here before...you usually drop by around this time?

—Oh.

[ with shizuo's attention elsewhere, that soft sound is likely his first clue that the newcomer is someone he knows. should he look, he'll find her hovering by the door, closed now that she's fully stepped in, hands wringing idly before her.

in retrospect, olivia realizes that seeking him out while he'd been in the bathroom was probably not the best of ideas. the strange thing about her resolve is, once she's made her mind up to do something, she just goes ahead and does it, without really thinking about it, mostly out of fear that she may never gain that nerve again. that morning she'd woken up with the decision to find him, knowing she owes him an explanation that has already been a long time coming.

she's just happy that he wasn't using the restroom for anything.. embarrassing.

...

not that she knows what it is he's doing anyway. ]

Sorry, I was hoping I could — [ talk to him, really, but now it seems sort of silly to admit, given their surroundings. she gives the bathroom a furtive yet panning glance, her cheeks coloring. ]

I-I mean. What are you doing?

[And here is another, different night in the saloon; Shizuo's lingering a little later than usual this time, but it's less by plan and more by coincidence at the moment. It's been a little while since he last bumped into Achilles, after all--properly bumped into him, even, with the strange time-bug events of their last (significantly more youthful) meeting still up in the air as far as properly counting goes. A small greeting had eventually turned into the both of them settling at a table with drinks, and Achilles' particular propensity for...really long-winded speech could convert any quick casual conversation into a much more drawn out, practically story-telling affair.

At this particular moment, though, Shizuo finds he doesn't mind it quite so much. Sure, he still needs to take a moment to turn the words over in his head an extra time whenever Achilles actually says something--an increasingly adventurous task, with the more drinks he actually has--but there's no denying the company is fairly nice and jovial right now, all the same. Maybe because it really has been awhile since they talked properly, ah...

They're both several drinks in at this point, and for Shizuo it's just now finally starting to register as a mildly pleasant warmth; just as it adapts aggressively to pretty much everything else, his body has only redoubled whatever natural alcohol tolerance Shizuo might have over the years, making getting anywhere near drunk a very time-consuming process. He has an elbow propped on the table, leaning slightly towards Achilles where the latter sits opposite of him, absentmindedly fidgeting around with his glass.]

Ah, by the way...what do you think of this whole place so far, anyway? [There's a very vague gesture encompassing the saloon around them, but it's alluding to the settlement as a whole too. This mission in general, as it were.] Still trying to decide whether it beats the last mission or not, myself...guess the locals are nice enough. Hah, at least we don't have to babysit these guys like we did with those squidge things...

[It actually takes Shizuo a little while to check out the stables properly for himself; it's a few weeks into their stay at Perdition's Rest before time and curiosity finally combine just neatly enough for him to pay the place a visit. He'd be the first to admit he's not at all that great with animals, after all--and besides that, he doesn't have a horse riding license back home or anything...so he figures he wouldn't exactly be fit to try riding a horse anyway, even if he wanted to.

Still, though, despite the really prominent cowboy theme going on around this entire place...he's had yet to see an actual horse? There's four-legged machines tethered at the front of the saloon, yes, or roving down the street with people in tow sometimes, but...Shizuo has to wonder if that really is the entirety of the horse population around here. "Horse" population?? Well, that and it might be worth checking out where they're actually coming from, anyway...

When he does eventually get there, several of his questions are answered at once--there's definitely still not a single actual living horse to be found, though apart from that the stables still manage to be surprisingly...stable-ish. Shizuo manages to get a few minutes in just wandering around peering at things, but eventually the Quorral running the place bustles up, beams at him, and asks if he's interested in any of the machines he sees.]

Oh--well, I'm not really any good at riding these sorts of things, so... [--Not a problem, not a problem. There's riding lessons here too, the fee's pretty small, won't you give it a shot? A bit taken aback by the Quorral's almost immediate offer, Shizuo can't quite manage to get a further mild objection out before the woman is waving it off and gesturing him outside the room anyway. There's somebody else already out in the corral right now, the Quorral says, a nice young lady, maybe you could both work together. Here you go--

And then the Quorral is opening up the corral and ushering Shizuo inside--and there he is, still looking more than a little mystified, hovering and eyeing both the machine horse and the unfamiliar girl inside. The Quorral woman watches with cheery expectation from outside, elbows propped on the fencing. Shizuo supposes it would be rude to try turning back at this point...ah....] Uh...hey. So you're trying to figure out how to ride these things?

Edited 2016-10-24 04:13 (UTC)

[The small sound is definitely pretty familiar, enough to finally pry away his painstaking attention to this hair in the mirror. Instead, looking at the backdrop in his reflection properly, Olivia's familiar profile registers into sight too, and from there the mystery of the new stranger in the bathroom is pretty quickly solved.

Straightening, Shizuo turns to look over at her properly, visibly mildly surprised but hardly in a particularly bad sense.]

Ah, 'morning Olivia. [Come to think of it, here's a face he hasn't seen in a bit, actually...not since the train, right? But at least she seems to be in much better shape now than she was back then. Shizuo doesn't quite offer her a smile, but there's something close to the beginnings of one at the corners of his mouth before her question sinks in.] Huh?

[--Well, in retrospect this probably does look a little weird. Shizuo glances down at the brush still in his hand.] Oh, just some touching up, mostly. I've been a bit overdue, actually, so I figured I might as well get it out of the way now... [He gestures vaguely at his head of currently-neatly-parted sections of hair with the brush, as if this is a perfectly normal and common thing.] These roots aren't too bad right now, but they're only gonna get worse if I put it off, and all that. Like I said, though, I'll be out of the way in a bit...sorry about that.

[Even workaholics like Riza need a day off or two, and there's no better way to unwind after a long day of hunting bandits than to grab a drink from the bar and settle down in one of the back tables of the saloon to watch the nightly entertainment unfold. She's content to spend most of her evenings alone - the saloon workers don't pay the far tables much mind - but that doesn't mean she's about to turn anyone away from the open chairs at her table, particularly not when it's a face she recognizes and likes.

Her easy smile turns warm, and she's quick to motion to one of the chairs nearby. Take a seat.]

Not often. Usually I stay in my room instead. [Quieter there, and all that.] But I thought I should stop by and see how the performers are doing. It's nice to watch them sometimes.

How about you?

[The son of Peleus has found himself in a mood most foul since he was nearly cast through death's gates by Koltira's luminescent blade and shadowed godcraft. More than his apprehension for the end of mortality, which already casts its long shadow over his heart, what looms over him like a storm-bruised cloud that shrouds the sky is his shame for this defeat. With his pride throbbing like a wound inflamed, he wears an agitated countenance throughout the long days.

Yet the present company removes his mind from such matters for a moment, and the more cactus wine he imbibes the longer he may drift from himself to inhabit a more pleasant state. Latter Greeks would glut themselves on the fruits of Dionysus' vines after watching one tragedy after another, in awe of the rebirth granted in the wake of devastation, just as the son of Semele once was trampled by Titans but then restored within the thigh of Zeus almighty and returned to godliness. Such is the catharsis that wine might grant, the cleansing it might bring about.

When he makes his answer to Shizuo's question, his words are less nimble upon his tongue than usual, but only by the smallest degree.]

It is true that here we have a roof over our heads and comfortable beds in which to sleep, but for all the hardships we suffered there in the vasty wilds of Zeta-12, I minded it little - for with me I had fast-dancing Olivia, whose gentle heart and soft curves do lighten such burdens. For the sake of our charges she wore the mantle of motherhood, and how lovely she was to see thus. At times it was indeed a peaceful life, the sort I thought I had abandoned long ago to never again find.

[Here he trails off as he remembers that such a life truly is little more than the gauzy stuff of dreams to him, and he tips back the tin cup once more.]

And here the wild-eyed Qorral are not so esteemed for hospitality as were the cloven-footed Nalawi. To this I have tried to acquiesce, but it so widely deviates from the ways of the Achaeans that it is difficult to find friendship in these men who behold us as strangers.

Edited (gently adds more) 2016-10-29 13:49 (UTC)

[Yeah, especially to Shizuo's particularly untrained ears, Achilles' speech hardly seems particularly affected at all by all the drinks so far. He plants his chin on a free hand, attention seemingly divided fairly evenly between Achilles and the tabletop as the latter speaks...and speaks....and Shizuo tries to focus on parsing it all. He's taking another swallow from his cup when what Achilles is actually saying about Olivia finally registers a couple of seconds late--"soft curves" specifically--and, startlingly direct as that is, he ends up inhaling a bit of his drink and splutters as he straightens, a hand over his mouth.]

Uh--oh, right. [Shizuo clears his throat, but the embarrassment still creeps into his features and the curve of his shoulders a bit anyway.] I guess you guys were together that time too, that's right...yeah, Olivia's pretty nice. [IN...MULTIPLE SENSES, HE'S SURE....but he is most certainly not about to say that out loud. Achilles seems to be covering it enough for the both of them in that department anyway.] She was definitely good with the squidges and things too. And you're right...it was peaceful, anyway. Ah, apart from the plants sometimes.

[He'd been quite out of his element at the time, but looking back, Shizuo has to admit the whole experience really...wasn't terrible, on Zeta-12? His temper had fared especially well there, anyway--better than it ever had in Ikebukuro. And already better than it's been so far here, too...

Still maybe a little too eager to steer away from the more intimate details of Achilles and Olivia's relationship in particular, Shizuo focuses in on this last comment now.]

So these guys have been pretty rude to you so far, you mean?

[ there was a real reason she'd come here, an actual valid, honest-to-gods purpose that had absolutely nothing at all to do with hair or strange tiny brushes, or anything at all related to that.

but the sheer absurdity of what (she thinks) she is witnessing is just so gripping, just so distracting, that olivia cannot help but get caught up in it for the moment, her head canting to the side as she attempts to just... process this all.

she doesn't know shizuo very well, of course, but what she does know of him leads her to believe that something like this seems... rather out of character. ]

Um... Wouldn't it be better to wash your hair in the shower...? With more soap...?

[ that's what he's doing, right? why would he waste such precious time on a process so illogical??? ]

[As he settles into the cactus wine and Shizuo's company, so too does he settle into his seat. Rather than the proud posture he typically bears like a mantle over his shoulders, his limbs relax while he drapes himself over the chair and leans into its wooden back - yet still he remains an imposing presence, seeming to inhabit space as do the cliffs that rise from the sea foam. A frown twists his features as he considers his companion's question.]

Some have been willing to welcome us to this strange land and show gratitude for the aid that we give, yet many more seem interested only in making selfish gains and exploit us for our precious coins - we who cannot help but require food upon which to sup and beds in which to sleep. Almighty Zeus who bears the aegis demands than men welcome strangers into their houses and share with them what they have, yet these wild-eyed Qorral listen not. Such is their way, although it seems to me quite dishonorable.

[But this soreness now dulls in comparison to the sharp ache of his ego for the blow Koltira has dealt. Thus he sways to another matter quite easily, aided too by the jug of wine he has nearly drained in the time they have together sat. He sees how Shizuo's composure slips from his grasp at the barest mention of a woman's body and the delight that may be found therein, and for this Achilles cannot help but tease him.]

Moreover, it seems to me that you shy away from the subject of women, as deer shy away from the footsteps of men. I forget how young you still must be, Shizuo - so too was I, when first the well-benched ships of my Myrmidons landed upon the shores of Troy. Yet surely your heart has filled with love for a woman before, for her features fair and her looks demure. What man could help but find himself ensnared by so lovely a sight?

[Right, see, he'd thought the topic had been pretty well-salvaged at first. Achilles takes to the question easily enough, at any rate, and if his frown is anything to go by Shizuo can guess that he does consider their current hosts pretty rude, even before Achilles gets finished speaking of it in ponderous length. Shizuo nods along slowly anyway, though, mentally carving the gist around the strange metaphors and flowery descriptions. Ah, so by the sound of it...maybe visitors are taken in by default or something, where Achilles is from?

He seems pretty upset about the payment aspect, at any rate...so, more like treating a guest or something. It's an issue that's hardly chafed on Shizuo at all--unless there's family involved, you've got to pay for pretty much everything in a place like Ikebukuro, so it feels no particularly different here. But if you're not used to that...

Shizuo's trying to put together a properly mildly sympathetic response to this, either way, but it turns out that Achilles isn't about to let go of that other topic so easily after all. The comments still feel decidedly out of left field, and even long as they are Shizuo can definitely get the gist of it there--which has him straightening even more in his seat now, at contrast to Achilles' relaxed posture opposite.]

What? I mean, ah... [Why is this happening...why are they talking about this now?? Consternation clear on his features now, and with no immediate path of escape from this topic in sight, Shizuo takes another drink and frowns around his cup, looking almost reluctant to set it down now. (It does so well in hiding his face, look...)] I--yeah, sure? I guess? ...They're alright....uh, not that, I've ever been in a relationship or anything. Doubt that's going to happen. [It's practically more of a mumble at this point as Shizuo lowers his glass, staring down at it very pointedly now. Ah, and his face is getting warm now too, this is stupid--clearly that's just the alcohol, obviously. (But if the embarrassment wasn't clear before, it's certainly pretty plain now...)]

[Fairly oblivious to Olivia's increasing consternation and complete sidetrack from original intentions, Shizuo blinks slowly at her, vague not-smile fading in favor of some confusion of his own now.]

Huh? I mean, I guess? That's what you usually do if you wash your hair, sure.

[Does she...want to wash her hair but not know how to go about it, or.......oh, no, wait a minute. The amount of staring she's doing at the brush in his hair finally registers, and that manages to make things click from there. Confusion melts into comprehension on his features.]

Oh! That's not what I'm doing, though. With this, here, I'm dyeing my hair right now. Well, sort of...only a little bit. [He gestures again, a little closer to his roots this time, and maybe now Olivia can spot the beginnings of brown starting to edge into blond there.] I don't need to change a lot, but the color's beginning to grow back in again, so I figured it was about time...

How you blush like a maiden who for the first time meets her husband ere they are wed!

[The more Shizuo wilts in embarrassment, as grapes might shrivel upon the vine when left to languish beneath the sun, the brighter burns Achilles' desire to press forward with this matter. It is only when he grows comfortable with another that he lets show this mirthful side that stands opposite his usual serious countenance: in truth such teasing is a sign that he beholds Shizuo as a friend.]

But what is this you are saying? What could cast such doubts over your heart? Why, you are comely of features and strong and youthful of body, and in these qualities women delight.

[As he speaks, his eyes drag rather heavily over Shizuo's form that he may admire him in full, and a grin hangs lightly from his lips. If already he lacks such shame when sober, then his wine-laden state at present only presses him to cast any semblance of shame all the farther away. He thinks it rather unfortunate, however, that Shizuo should favor clothing that grants more modesty than a man needs. He himself is clad in the sort of garments native to the Qorral, with his legs sealed in denim and his feet bound in boots rather than sandals. Instead of the tunic that often drapes his form, he wears a red button-down shirt - although he somewhat hearkens back to the freedom of his own native garb by rolling the sleeves up to his elbows and ostentatiously leaving the top few buttons undone.]

Dyeing?

[ olivia's mind stalls. ]

Your hair?

[ she'd only ever known of such a process with fabric so she does, in theory, understand the concept... but to ever do it to one's own hair???? she'd never even considered the possibility, let alone the mechanics of it.

despite herself, she inches ever closer, curious beyond measure as he inclines his head just so that she might see the "roots" there, like he says. ]

Shizuo, do you mean — do you mean your hair isn't really this color???

[Achilles no, you're not supposed to outright go and point out the blushing?? This is clearly the opposite of what you should be doing??? And so, when Achilles does, this only promptly makes the flush creep up even further, much to Shizuo's exceptional chagrin.]

Ah--hey, what are you talking about? Maybe this drink's just getting to me... [Look there aren't a lot of things he's going to be defensive about, but now, at this particular moment and for some particular reason, Shizuo is feeling particularly defensive about this. He's pretty sure he wouldn't be this bad if he weren't drinking right now, anyway...so it's got to be a least partially true?

But from there, though...well. There's a bit of a weird moment here. The reassurance in itself almost isn't so surprising--Tom-san tends to respond in the same sort of way sometimes, whenever this comes up, and Shizuo never really quite believes him either--but the actual phrasing is pretty...different. Flattering, sure, but almost kind of alarmingly so? Which could very well just be chalked up to Achilles' general habit for these kinds of turns of phrase anyway--and Shizuo's about to leave the thought at that--but then he looks up from his glass just in time to actually catch that. Particular drag of Achilles' eyes on him, there.

It's true that Shizuo is, as usual, as layered as ever in his bartender's uniform. But now, for a brief and very inexplicable moment, he's almost sort of glad he's wearing what he is right now. And around this exact same time he finds his throat is suddenly very dry, as a bizarre and entirely different sort of embarrassment layers into the initial one. He shifts awkwardly where he's seated, before moving to take another large swallow from his cup, frowning at himself about as much as he's frowning at Achilles now.

What the hell. What was that supposed to be, just now? That was kind of...no, that couldn't be right. Maybe he's already had more to drink than he thought. ...Yeah, that's probably all it is.]

Well, I don't really know about that... [It ends up being nearly as much of a distracted mumble as the last; he sets down his cup at rubs a bit at the side of his face, as if this is somehow going to help drive off the increasing color in it.] Even if that wasn't an issue...I'm not a sort of person most people want to love. And it's probably for the better, anyway. I'd probably just hurt that sort of person.

[Once most of the aches and pains had faded away, Nyuu began to show her face in town again, though it was still marked by a couple of cuts and her arms remained wrapped in bandages. As usual, the hat she'd bought on their arrival day protected her head from the sun and kept her now-mismatched horns hidden. Still, she was glad to get some fresh air and decided to finally try her hand at the riding lessons.

Nyuu wasn't too intimidated by the large size of the mechanical horses thanks to her previous interaction with one named Lasso. Now, a different one was pressing against her hand as she gently stroked down its nose.]

Hm? [She looks over her shoulder and smiles.] Oh, yes! I figured I should take the opportunity while it lasts since there aren't any nearby stables where I'm from. I also saw a stable back at the castle, so perhaps what I learn here will come in handy later. Though... [A light blush dusts her cheeks pink as she smiles sheepishly.] I must admit that I've been having some difficulty getting on the horse.

[She's grateful that she decided to wear the denim jeans and not her long skirt, given how high she would have to lift her leg, but there was already some dirt smudged on her pants' legs, suggesting she'd taken a fall.]

Edited (wrong icon) 2016-10-30 03:00 (UTC)

[His is a culture in which men freely gaze upon one another that they may admire the strength displayed in sturdy limbs and chests - for what warrior would not be in awe of another's might? Yet Achilles perhaps takes more than his due pleasure in such gazing. This he knows well, and for it he feels no shame, for among the Achaeans there is room too for such desires to grow.

While Shizuo fidgets and flusters, Achilles merrily drains his cup. In one moment he is delighting in the warm rush of the wine down his throat and through his veins, imbibing the drink as a germinating seed would absorb water, and delighting too in his companion's bashfulness, wondering with which words he ought to nudge him next, the teasing lilt ready and ripe upon his tongue. Then in the next, Shizuo finishes his mumbled answer, and the grin flattens upon Achilles' lips as would sails that slacken in the absence of wind.

He recalls now how Shizuo had lamented his temper so swift to light, how there upon the frozen tundra of Zeta-12 they had shared in this grievance. Ere he speaks, Achilles empties the last of the jug of wine into his cup, and as it flows he contemplates.]

It is because of your rage that you have such fears, is it not? Indeed I know well how a man's fury may inflict pain upon those whom he most cherishes, as I once hurt gentle-hearted Patroclus when burned my anger for wide-ruling Agamemnon, son of Atreus. Not a day passes by that I do not remember this.

[While his posture remains loose - his arm draped over the chair's back, his body melding with the worn wood as he unwinds - his fingers now are tense around his cup.]

So too have I hurt those I hold dear for the sake of my pride, which at times has seemed a burden to bear upon my back. [He thinks now of Olivia, although he speaks not her name. He thinks of her features marred by grief, her tears soaking his chest as she begs him to never again frighten her by tempting death - and he thinks of how he cannot honor her entreaties.] Yet even so have I found love to be worthwhile for the bliss it brings, even if such happiness is only as ephemeral as the flower that by nightfall has wilted. And if to hold such a conviction as this is selfish, then I care not.

[He speaks as one who falls in love as the tide rises, compelled by the luminous moon to reach for the star-laden sky: thus, it is hard for him to understand how one could ignore so potent a force.]

[Achilles manages to pin down the reasoning pretty perfectly--Shizuo certainly couldn't have denied it even if he wanted to. But then again, there's not much worth lying about there...

Either way, the conversation has definitely shifted from teasing to something else now, and maybe that should have been a relief...except that really, the topic in itself isn't much better. Shizuo simply nods shortly, at the initial question, and from there he's staring down into his cup again as Achilles continues. The words in and of themselves aren't so bad--Shizuo finds he can understand what Achilles is saying pretty well this time, maybe because the sentiment translates over so easily. Right...they're sort of similar like this, he remembers now. Achilles' own temper is hardly a small thing, apparently, if that story he'd told Shizuo back on Zeta-12 had been anything to go by.

So the first part is relateable--yes--they do sort of have the same experiences there, at least. But then Achilles is moving on to the topic of his pride, and the happiness of having love despite how brief it might be, and Shizuo can't help but feel he's losing the connection again. Just as Achilles might have trouble imagining restraint from such a thing, Shizuo finds it very difficult to try putting his head around this notion too. Loving somebody despite knowing you could hurt them. Despite being who you are, compared to them...]

...Beats me if that's selfish or not. [He certainly wouldn't know, anyway. Maybe it's normal. Maybe most people can think about it in that sort of way. Shizuo folds both hands around his cup, looking up from it and to Achilles with a frown now deeply-set.] Being happy...it's good that you are. If it can work out that way in the end, I guess. But I don't... [He pauses, and sighs, shaking his head to himself.] I'm not any good for that. I know I'm not. Anybody could do a lot better than me...and they should. I already know they'd be a lot happier that way. --Hah, besides, there's not a chance for me in the first place, so...

[So...that's that, isn't it? He already knows this. He's always known this. Nobody could love a person like him anyway, he'd always figured. (Well, until that thing with that demon sword happened, back home...and maybe now that's not quite so certain anymore. But still...) No, this topic's no good. Achilles has stopped smiling at this point, and the shift in mood is enough that even Shizuo can notice it. Besides, there's only one person to blame for that...and so, with a small wave of his hand, Shizuo tries to push this aside.]

--Anyway. Never mind that. I got sidetracked...this topic isn't much fun to talk about with someone like me, sorry about that. [Sitting up, Shizuo takes up his cup and promptly downs the rest of it.] ...I'm getting another drink. You want anything new?

[The gesture to a chair is noted and acknowledged; with that sort of wordless invite made, it doesn't feel imposing at all to sake a seat beside her, and so that's exactly what Shizuo proceeds to do. The small pleased smile persists, admittedly helped by Riza's own warm one in turn.]

Aha, so this is a lucky sort of run-in for me this time, huh? Can't complain about that. [Half-turned to face her, Shizuo props an elbow on the table as soon as he's sitting, other hand still holding his glass and swirling it absentmindedly.] I'm sorta the same way...it's kind of loud down here so it's not an every day thing for me. But sometimes it's nice to relax a bit. The performers are pretty neat too, yeah...

[He glances around at the rest of the saloon thoughtfully now, taking a swallow from his glass.]

Well, that and this is all pretty familiar too, I guess...

[Shizuo stares at her with increasing bemusement as Olivia runs through this apparent realization, straightening once it seems she's gotten a good look at his head. But...well, this is kind of weird, though. He's surprised to find that she's so surprised, especially when she finally asks that...]

Uh...yeah. Hah, it's definitely not. Actually just brown, usually.

[Somehow it's almost sort of flattering that she thought this was natural all this time, at least?? Doesn't that usually mean you pull off the color well or something...ah, it was a thing along those lines. Tom-san probably said something like that once. But Shizuo's going to take it.

Except that now it's his turn to be more than a little confused, all the same, as he tilts his head at Olivia now.]

But wait, I mean...is hair dyeing not a thing for you guys back home? [His eyes move from Olivia's face to her own...very pink hair now, confused frown deepening.] Your hair really is that color?

[The bandages do earn a bit of a curious glance, but Shizuo's hardly going to outright comment on that just yet, especially with a complete stranger here. There's much more preoccupying things at hand right now, anyway...like the mechanical horse in question. Still feeling the eyes of the Quorral lady on his back, he drifts on forward until he's standing beside both the girl and the horse, moving his glance to the mechanical nose the girl's now patting at.

...Man, he's seen some pretty weird horses in his life, but. These are still really weird horses.]

Yeah? Ah, same here...I'm not from a sort of place that really needs stables or anything. There aren't usually any horses around town. Can't say I've ever ridden one either... [He looks back over to Nyuu.] They still act like regular horses here though, huh? Even though they're...mostly robots...

[Probably?? He has no idea what these horses are made of, honestly, but all he can see right now is a lot of metal. But he blinks at Nyuu's admission and sheepish smile now, the comment registering as an opportunity to do something besides standing around awkwardly being just as clueless. He takes it immediately.] Oh, if you need a boost up onto it I could probably help with that, though. You just need a bit of a lift, right?

[It's nice to sit back and relax with a friend, and Riza's appreciative of the easy atmosphere that swirls around them.

Shizuo's never struck her as a particularly chatty person, so his admittance to doing much the same thing comes as no surprise. What does is his reveal of the saloon as a familiar place, something she wouldn't have made the connection to.]

Familiar? [She takes a sip of her drink, then tilts her head quizzically.] Did you used to work in a bar?

[Would explain his usual getup, at the very least...]

[Things really are pretty relaxed right now, aren't they? It's certainly nice...and Shizuo is content to at least try enjoying it while it lasts.

And it's true, he's really not terribly chatty at all most of the time. Not to the extent that a more frequent attendance to this part of the saloon would require, anyway...but for this particular moment, the combination of the drinks and Riza's friendly presence here is probably going to help a fair amount with getting at least a little chattiness going for once, on Shizuo's part.

At the question he nods, smile growing a little now with some faint amount of amusement.]

Yep, got it in one. Guess that's probably pretty obvious, though... [He fidgets at his bowtie a bit, which works just as well to indicate his bartender suit on the whole.] That was the longest job I ever held down before I ended up with Tom-san instead. ...Haven't worked in one for a couple years now. [Yes, despite the fact that he's still wearing bartender suits every day currently, for some reason... Shizuo sets his cup back onto the table, smile fading into thoughtfulness.] Not sure if I miss it or not. But after everywhere else we've been so far it's nice to be able to recognize a place like this, you know?

[It's not hard to picture him now, standing behind a bar and quietly slinging forth drinks with a smile here and there. It's a charming image, actually, and she wonders why he ended that particular line of work. Not up his alley, maybe? But she doesn't ask right away.

With a light smile:]

I don't suppose you could make me a drink then?

[She's teasing. Doubtful the Qorral barkeep would want foreigners mucking about with their supplies, and she certainly has no intention of putting Shizuo on the spot and forcing him into actions he might only remember vaguely. Besides, she's far more interested in the stories he must surely have of those times.

The joke's waved off with a shake of her head and a loose gesture, though her eyes are curious when her gaze settles back on him.]

But speaking of drinks, did anyone ever buy you a drink? Surely several people must have.

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[CLOSED]

for Olivia;

for Riza;

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for Achilles;

for Nyuu;

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groans, a literal week later

finally slams in here

is slammed happily :V

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god six tags in and this thread is already off the charts homo tho, kath why this

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because i love you

AND THEN THIS GOT DEPRESSING...unbelievable

groans back from week-later land......

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hi fives!!!

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