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[cactusy]

is the place that doubles as an arcade seriously the only bar in town? where do you people go to get plastered and make bad decisions?

Comments

[cantilevers]

Probably for the short term, yeah. Long-term, it could be doable.

[cactusy]

but who's going to take one for the team and teach these weirdos the ins and outs of clubbing?

[cantilevers]

Might require a group effort. I was quite the clubber when my responsibilities were exactly two: work and don't die.

[Which, oh shit, he was back to that stage all over again!]

[cactusy]

really? you might even be better at it than me.

[This is less flattery, and more an attempt to weasel her way out of any teaching duties; sorry, bro.]

[cantilevers]

Oh probably. I do need someone's disapprovals if I decide to set it up though. You willing to be a candidate?

[cactusy]

depends on what specifically I'd be signing up for

[cantilevers]

Clucking your tongue in disapproval, telling me off, maybe gentle cussing?

[cactusy]

okay, but what would I be disapproving?

[cantilevers]

Anything you want. I give you license to disapprove, if that's your thing.

[cactusy]

oh

ok

sounds like a plan

in the meantime, want to meet up and tell me about the work you did that made "don't die" a big priority?

[cantilevers]

Sure, name the time and place and I'll check my empty schedule so I can work out an accommodation. I doubt it's as interesting a tale as I make it out to be.

[cactusy]

how about that pub, even it sucks

I can be there in an hour

[cantilevers]

Harry's you mean? I can be there in an hour.

Brief physical description so I'm not harassing the wrong person?

[cactusy]

[Instead of bothering with that, she switches over to a video feed, wiggling her fingers in a little wave.]

These things have video.

[cantilevers]

[It takes a few minutes for him to switch modes because... well, technology is hard. However, he does manage it!]

I'm still working out how these work. A pleasure to see you.

[cactusy]

[Shaw looks him up and down (as well as she can on a HUD, anyway), tosses him the ghost of a smile, and shoots off a snappy little salute.]

Appearance memorized. See you soon.

[And then she'll hop off and head out, tracking down the place on foot rather than bothering with the interminably slow-moving trolley. She'll end up getting there a little early, and will head straight for the bar if she doesn't spot Vander first.]

[cantilevers]

[Vander offered a mock salute and also shut off the device once he had memorized her features. Thankfully, he did have excellent facial recognition.

He made his way to the pub to be exactly on time of one hour since their conversation. He noted the patrons in the establishment before picking her out at the bar and approached. He slid into the chair next to her and rested his forearms on the bartop.]

So, what's your poison of choice, hmm?

[cactusy]

Oh, I'm ready to taste-test the whiskey.

[She says, lifting an arm to flag down the bartender.]

I'm Sameen Shaw. You got a name?

[cantilevers]

Ah, whiskey is your poison, is it? On the rocks or straight?

[He leaned over the bar and was tall enough he could simply reach over and grab bottles if he wanted to. He surveyed the line up and settled back in his seat again so the bartender could serve.]

Vander. [No last name.] You looking to slide a little wild and crazy or just ask me invasive questions about previous comments? [His conversational tone indicated he wasn't bothered by either potential scenario.]

[cactusy]

Straight-up.

[She says, an amused smile shifting across her face as he procures them the bottles (it'll get even bigger if the bartender glares at him for his antics). A consummate soldier and order-taker though she may be, Shaw has a healthy appreciation for people who are willing to bend the rules.]

And, uh... ordinarily I'd say the first, but you really did get me interested. How about storytime about past wild and crazy that leads into current wild and crazy.

[cantilevers]

[There was definitely a glare in his direction, but he offered a disarming smile as he reached over for two tumblers next. Look, it was all free anyway, and he had the arm length for it. He was a bartender, and he made a show of that as he poured them both a finger of whiskey neat.

He slid her a tumbler and recorked the bottle to utilize later. No doubt neither one of them were going to settle for just drink today.]

I'm not intoxicated enough to give my life story, so you're required to put in some work and ask actual questions.

[cactusy]

I thought we already agreed you were gonna share some stories about this apparently dangerous job of yours; is that not narrow enough?

[She hmmmms, crossing her legs at the ankle as she leans sideways against the counter, taking a measured first sip of her drink.]

Okay. You work solo or with a team?

[cantilevers]

Oh, is that what we agreed to, hmm? [He took a sip from his tumbler and inclined it toward her afterwards.] I worked in mines, and let's just say that safety wasn't always top priority.

[He shrugged his shoulders.] Teams in that many of us worked the same twelve hours shift.

[cactusy]

-- Huh. I assumed you were the soldier type.

[Personal bias, she supposes; she sees a big, burly guy who says he works a dangerous job, and she assumes fighter before she assumes manual laborer, even if both options build muscle and put personal safety at risk.]

So... 'wild and crazy' for you meant less exciting capers, and more horrific human rights abuses?

[cantilevers]

We don't have a military. [He set his tumbler back on the bartop.] I used to be a brawler, if that feeds the stereotype for you.

[Vander could still brawl, and the train had proved to him that he was more than capable if slower and less longevity due to age. He'd put his fair share of people in the dirt face first.]

Can't it be both? You want bloody details of eye gouging or pulling another man from a cave-in with missing lower legs? I can regale you with all the juicy facts.

[He didn't want to, but he could. And perhaps he was looking to see if she was flapped by the potential for description.]