ledbythewind | [Action]

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[Action]

[Sometimes you just really, really need to get out of your house for a little while. That goes double when it is your birthday and your house is currently the residence of an ancient demon temporarily inhabiting the body of one of your best friends and a several-years-younger version of another friend in addition to the usual interesting cast of characters who reside there.

As much as Richard likes them, sometimes he just needs a little space, especially when he would much prefer that no one gets it into their heads to throw him a party or something. That's why this Saturday evening finds him at Good Spirits, nursing a glass of wine at the bar and just people-watching, though he isn't really making much effort to approach anyone. (Not yet, at least. Give him a few more drinks and that might change.)

Later on in the evening, he'll head back home and attempt to sneak to his room before anyone can jump on him to wish him a happy birthday. Of course, knowing his luck...]

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[ shizuo hasn't exactly been having the best few weeks. after that thing with cat-faced stranger he'd decided to take a little time off to, well, recover. after getting stabbed and concussed out of the blue by a random stranger, most people would decide to stay inside until they were caught - but he hadn't even bothered reporting it.

in fact, once he could get around without cursing and limping, he was up and working. he's standing at the bar, sipping a frothy looking milkshake and watching the bar. ]

[Richard doesn't recognize this bartender-- most likely due to said absence, although he doesn't know anything about that. Either way, given how he's sort of become a regular without really meaning to, he might as well introduce himself, right? And his wine glass IS almost empty, so that's a perfect excuse for him to wave the man over with a smile.]

Excuse me, may I have a refill?

[ that's a new face... he thinks. he'd noted the man when he'd walked in but hadn't put much more thought into it. shizuo is notoriously bad at recognizing people by sight. he sets the shake aside and grabs the bottle from the shelf. ]

Aa, sure.

[Hmm, this one isn't as chatty as Zack, which leads Richard to wonder just how well those two get along. Call it morbid curiosity.

Wine glass in one hand, he rests his chin in the other, still smiling.]

I don't recall seeing you here before-- are you a new employee?

Yeah, something like that. I've been here for three months.

[ pouring, pouring, pouring. look at that SKILL. ]

Then I suppose I'll have to tell Zack that he should mention his coworkers more often.

[He chuckles. THAT IS SOME NICE SKILL THERE.]

I'm Richard. And you are?

[ ... he'd prefer it if he didn't. he's enjoying the anonymity that comes from living in Luceti. ]

Shizuo. [ he sets the glass back down, corking the bottle delicately - he's cracked one too many by being careless. ] Nice to meet you.

It's nice to meet you as well. Shizuo... you wouldn't happen to be Japanese, would you?

[He's learned enough by now that he can recognize a Japanese name when he hears one, or at least he thinks. Chalk it up to having spent the last year living with a couple of Japanese people.]

Yeah, I am. I'm from around Ikebukuro. [ he resists a why. people like talking to the bartender, he'll never know why. he'd never want to open up to someone when he's not totally himself.

then again, shizuo doesn't drink. maybe it makes sense to people who have tried it. ]

One of my friends here is from the Shinjuku area, though I'm not sure how close that is to Ike...

[He pauses before he stumbles over that word. Okay, the alcohol is definitely NOT helping with his Japanese pronunciation ability. And never mind the fact that he's not actually sure where Isamu is from because he hasn't asked.]

[ the blonde's eyebrow does a fantastical twitch at the mention of the place. he's screamed at a certain resident of that area one too many times to think of the place without a sour taste rising in his throat. ]

It's not far.

[Fortunately (or perhaps unfortunately) for Richard, he doesn't notice that eyebrow twitch and just continues merrily along with the conversation.]

Of course, that doesn't mean that the two of you are from the same version of Japan. But I could introduce you to him if you'd like.

No, thank you. If he comes in here I'll probably meet him. [ if it's izaya - and though he won't admit it, he hopes it is - he'll gladly show his face the door. the bastard has been under his radar for too long. it's driving him mad. ]

[He laughs again.] I'm not sure that will happen, considering I believe he's sworn off drinking for the time being.

Not a bad plan. I don't drink, myself. [ meet the world's most sober bartender... ah, maybe he should get back to the counter.

he gives a polite nod and wanders back. ]

There's nothing wrong with that. It's something of an acquired taste, after all.

[Never mind that he's probably acquired more of it than he really should. ... and oh, that wine glass is empty again.]

[ MILKSHAKE. yum, strawberry with real strawberries. he needs to look available for other people.

... oh the glass is empty. maybe he should have just left the bottle over there. but then he'd look lazy. hm... ]

[Don't worry, Shizuo, he's not going to comment on your drink choice. But he will lift said glass slightly with a smile.]

Could I trouble you for one more?

It's my job. [ it sounds vaguely friendly and reassuring. vaguely. the rough edges make it hard to tell.

but he hopes over the counter and brings the bottle over, taking the glass. ]

Thank you.

[The alcohol is already making him feel pleasantly relaxed, enough so that he might just be giving Shizuo a surreptitious up-and-down look as he comes over. Hmm, taller than him... not bad. And attractive...]

You're certainly good at it.

[ it's a good thing that this man is slender and nonthreatening to shizuo's standards. a look like that might have earned a larger man a brutal interrogation. a look like that usually means that someone is sizing him up for a fight.

but he actually doesn't even notice the look. ]

I've worked as a bartender before this. [ it was the longest job he'd ever held. ]

In your world?

[His tone should make it clear that a fight is the last thing he has in mind-- it's friendly, conversational, and genuinely curious. He likes hearing about other worlds, especially since he can't talk much about his own job for obvious reasons.]

Yeah.

[ weird guy. ] It was the last job I had before the one I have now.

[Richard will just tilt his head slightly to indicate for him to continue. He's starting to pick up on the fact that Shizuo is a little awkward, but it reminds him a bit of Asbel.]

[ there isn't a lot to that story. kasuka bought him these outfits as encouragement for him to stay at this job and work harder, then Izaya and his own stupid temper came along... and then Kasuka got busy, and he got busy. he scratches the side of his nose.

of course, only about half of that really goes through his head. he just shrugs. ]

I worked as a bodyguard before coming here.

and so begins a disaster

A BEAUTIFUL DISASTER.

YOU ASKED FOR IT

I DID INDEED~

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