ledbythewind | [Action]

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[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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[ of course, shizuo's still fuming. the hand resting on the bartop is digging in deep enough to leave cracks in the wood, and the cup - made of steel, actually - is starting to dent from the intensity of his grip. that irrationality has him about ready to throw the thing at the other man's head.

but he noticed. and that's at least lessening the pounding at his temples and... damnit he needs air. or a smoke. or both. right. ]

Then why? [ IN. HALE. killkilllkilllkilllkill. EX. HALE. ]

[Those cracks and that dent aren't escaping Richard's notice, yet strangely enough, he doesn't seem to be as alarmed by them as he should be. If anything, he looks almost apologetic. This was definitely not the outcome he'd been expecting.]

I said them because to me, they were the truth. I'm sorry.

[ ... a suspicious look. he's still breathing kind of hard, but he lets go of the bartop stiffly. "true to him"? what the hell?

and then totally relaxed. like nothing happened. ]

... though I take this to mean you aren't interested in men.

[Okay, so he couldn't resist one last little moment of trolling. It's just as well, anyway-- if Shizuo had responded positively, he probably would've freaked out and backed off. He wasn't actually expecting anything to come of it; he just wanted to feel a little less lonely for a while.]

[ ... this is over his head. leagues and leagues over his head. and it's pissing him off.

so, deciding that this was definitely mocking him, shizuo's just going to stomp off and find zack. this is just weird and he doesn't get it at all.]

[Zack has been watching the drama from the other side of the bar, and he'd come this close to stepping in if it had gotten any more serious. Thankfully it hadn't, and Zack is actually kind of proud that Shizuo managed to calm down. Maybe that's due to Richard managing the conversation, but either way- crisis averted. Awesome. And then Shizuo leaves, which... probably means it's time to get involved. He straightens up and heads over to meet Shizuo in the middle.]

Everything okay over there?

[ he jerks a thumb towards the patron, looking calm but still pretty wired. ] I'm going for a smoke. [ in other words, he doesn't want to deal with this situation anymore, he needs to bail and clear his head and it's all in your hands now. the look you get is mildly apologetic. ]

Sure, sure. Take your time, it's not too busy here. [He considers saying something more - reconsiders - considers again, and then-] Thanks for not throwing the bar at his head. He really is a harmless guy, honest.

I don't know what the hell he was going on about. [ he won't comment on the bar. he was tempted. ]

I can't say for sure by just watching you, but to me it kinda looked like he was flirting with you.

[ a blank stare... this. someone... wha... there's a slight questioning lift to his eyebrows, clearly confused, before he frowns. ] No.

Really, you don't think so? I mean, if I was gonna flirt with somebody I didn't know, calling them attractive is a good start.

[ Except that is Shizuo Heiwajima you're talking to and he probably won't ever understand the concept of flirting. Or, more accurately, flirting directed at him. Which is fine, at least in Izaya's eyes.

... oh, are you wondering where Izaya is? Ahh, somewhere in the back. He had heard the conversation between Shizuo and Richard (it was entertaining, until Shizuo neglected to throw that bartop. Damn Shizuo and his sudden ability to hold back. Why couldn't he just embrace his lack of humanity and go crazy like usual?), and it was the only thing that kept him from slinking out the back sooner. You see, he woke up in the bar. He figured that was the Malnosso's doing and while he questioned it, wanted to know more, and was rather pissed about the whole thing, he also figured he could keep himself entertained for a few minutes by listening to Shizuo royally piss himself off. Too bad that wasn't what ended up happening, it would have put him in a much better mood.

Oh, that's a little off topic, isn't it?

Back on topic then! Now that Izaya's had his "fill" of Shizuo's humiliation, he's going to aim to sneak out the back. Will he be able to escape before Shizuo goes for his cigarette, or will he be found out? The answer is...

Quite obvious. ]

[ clearly, in a previous life, shizuo had made a point to stomp on every little child's sand castle and drive his bad karma up to the point where he was just not allowed to have a good day. he'd thought that something felt... off, but he had, for once, chalked it up to paranoia. what were the chances that slimy bastard was going to return here?

the look he gives zack is positively dumbfounded. ] You definitely heard it wrong. [ definitely. because that's just silly, zack.

he shakes his head, turning - and suddenly the cigarette between his fingers is snapped and tossed to the ground. shizuo stomps the remains into the floor. that calm look is immediately replaced by a nasty, dangerous snarl of a smile. then, suddenly, one of the stools is flying towards the other end of the bar. ]

Edited 2011-08-07 16:06 (UTC)

[ ... well. His luck wasn't that great either, it seemed. Izaya turned, with a smile of course, to face Shizuo and that oncoming stool. Siiidestep~!

Izaya shakes his head. ]

[ Izaya glances to the side before shrugging and looking at Zack. He gives a friendly wave! ]

[ lalalalalala RUN OUT THE BACK DOOR ]

IZAYA!

[ izaya is one of the few people that knows precisely what sets him off. every single button and trigger. and he's the only person that gleefully smashes every single one. shizuo was angry before, but he's mind numbingly furious now. there's no thought in his head other than smashing that smug smile off of his face.

he springs over every obstacle and races off after the other man, casually ripping the door off as he passes by.

AND THEY'RE OFF. ]

[Richard hit the floor the moment that chair was thrown because WHOA ANGER MANAGEMENT ISSUES MUCH? And he likes his head right where it is, thanks.

He'll remeain silent and just staring as the pair make their rather dramatic exit, his mind still trying to process just what happened there. Did he accidentally start a bar fight by trying to flirt with the bartender?

He really isn't drunk enough for this.]

[...This is getting to be an alarmingly frequent occurrence around here. With a long-suffering sigh, Zack steps over to the door, lifting it off the ground to check out the damage. It's not looking pretty, but at least it wasn't the window this time...]

Sorry, Richard, looks like you picked a bad day to be here!

Yes, it looks like I did. I do seem to have a knack for having interesting timing.

[Happy birthday to him, indeed. He'll just get up off the floor, brush himself off with a smile, and then sit back down, though that smile is just strained enough that it likely reads as "give me a glass of the strongest you've got."]

[Yeah, Zack's getting that feeling. He heads over to the bar, mixing up a couple of one he'd learned from Sigmund awhile back- Drunken Pageboy, a dark drink resembling a cola with a dollop of brandy-whipped cream and nutmeg on the top. It's a little deceptively sweet.

The bar isn't busy, so Zack sits down across from Richard, sipping at his own after he's offered the other to his customer.]

So what's the occasion today? Or are you just out to cruise?

[Yeah he saw you flirting with Shizuo there, you stud.]

[It's my twenty-first birthday and I'm trying not to think about the fact that I spent my birthday last year celebrating it with my ex-boyfriend.

... is what he's thinking, but not about to say out loud. Instead, he just gives a slight smile and a nod of thanks as he accepts the drink.]

More like I just needed a break from my housemates for a little while, and Sir Shizuo was an interesting person.

[And attractive, but he doesn't think he needs to say that part out loud either.]

[Man, Richard, you're supposed to open up to the bartender, that's what he's there for!]

Haha, yeah, he's definitely interesting. [And a bit touched. The Izaya thing is an ongoing drama he has yet to really touch with a ten foot pole.] He's a nice guy if you can get him talking, but that's a challenge all by itself.

[THEN KEEP THE DRINKS COMING, MAN.]

Mmm. He does seem to be on the quiet side for the most part, except...

[... except for when he RIPS DOORS OFF HINGES and goes roaring out of the bar chasing someone.]

[TAKE IT SLOW, MAN, THESE ARE KIND OF STRONG.]

Except for the furniture-throwing, yeah. He does that a lot. It's a good thing this place repairs itself, or we'd be fixing it up a lot.

[But they taste so good. :(]

Is he human?

[He knows it's a bit of an intrusive question, but after Naoki, he's curious. Not that it would make him think less of someone even if they weren't.]

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this is the only icon I have that accurately describes his face

I think it works out pretty well.

Indeed!

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