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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[ 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.

[A bodyguard? That... makes Richard a tiny bit twitchy, but logically he knows there's no reason for that. Most bodyguards are perfectly honorable people, and Shizuo doesn't seem like a bad person at all.]

I'm sure you're excellent at that as well.

[ damn, this guy is just full of compliments. ] I don't usually have to do much. I don't really like violence, so it's nice.

[... that is a big plus in Richard's book. By now that third glass of wine is nearly gone and his inhibitions (and good judgment, apparently) have disappeared along with it. That's the only explanation for what he says next:]

That's a rather attractive quality in a man: protective, yet peace-loving. Truly a noble ideal.

[ the meaning goes right over his head. ]

That sounds like some sort of anime hero.

You don't think so?

No. I'd like to be someone like that. It just sounds like something from an tv show when you put it like that.

Judging from the way you described yourself, I'd say you already are like that.

[ ...... ] You're wrong.

Am I?

Yeah.

[ he starts back to the bar. ]

And modest as well. That's even better.

[ there's a slightly self deprecating quirk to his lips but it's gone pretty quick. whatever. shizuo takes his place at the bar and slides the wine back into place. ]

I'm sure you must have no shortage of admirers because of it.

[ ... richard, that is a dangerous button to nudge. you don't sound like you're mocking him, but... ] I don't.

... I see.

[In Richard's case, it's the opposite. He can hardly escape the stacks of letters he gets from eligible young women and their families back in Windol, the irony being that he's not interested in any of them at all.]

[ he shrugs in response, leaning against the table - milkshake, milksha- ahh, there' the whipped cream he mixed into it. ]

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