alcohol, your songs resound like my life never will

[moralperil]

Date & Time: 8/13/13, evening, two hours after this conversation.
Location: a bar of Jack's choosing
Characters: Mahdi (moralperil) & Jack (allucinator)
Summary: Mahdi's celebrating his one year anniversary in Exsilium. Jack promised Mahdi a drink, Mahdi bumped it up to two.
Warnings: TRIGGER WARNINGS: PTSD episodes, discussion of sexual abuse.

[There's a lot for him to think about, out in the rain. Mahdi tries not to sulk and dwell on being called 'kid', on being treated childishly. In a year here, he's only just recently started to understand this attitude comes from people who want to look out for him. They can't know how impossible a task that is.

It sucks, in a way. He'll probably always be the one who's like a little brother, the treasured friend, the ally and angel but never more than that. These are all great things to be, things Mahdi is happy to be, but he wonders why it seems like the only way to be thought of as an adult is to act cynical and jaded. It seems to him like not letting the world change you is a form of maturity, too, but the sincerity and sweetness he treasures are not valued by all.

Normally, Mahdi doesn't get so reflective, but it has been a year and nearly two weeks since he's arrived. He's been thinking about a lot of things lately, like how it's been over two years since he's seen his family and the last real conversation he had with his sister Fayra was about how he needed to get out more, how he ought to go dancing with her, how he needed to try and have fun and get a date since it's been two years since that last guy, dang it.

(Okay, now it's been more like four.)

But Mahdi hasn't been trying like she'd want him to, even though he has more opportunity here. He rarely goes out at night. He usually stays home, maybe practices some recipes and just goes to bed early.

Maybe he actually finds this place pretty depressing. It's time he stopped, he figured. It's time he took some kind of move in his personal life.

When Mahdi turns up at the bar, he's no longer in the casual-disheveled state he had been when they chatted on the tablets. He's pulled his hair back into a loose braid, and he's wearing a nice blue sweater and trousers. He arrives a few minutes earlier than two hours, so worried he might be late or find the wrong place. He pulls off his yellow raincoat with a shiver, and searches the room for Jack. If he hasn't arrived yet, he'll find a table or something - stools are just too challenging for him.]

Comments

[moralperil]

[Man you're just lucky you didn't meet him when he first arrived. He got stuck in his apron.] September 12th! [He writes it down. With hearts all around. All the entries are like that.] Hmm... Do you think Cassie would be happier if I brought Truffle for a visit or visa-versa?

[allucinator]

Er-- probably if you brought . . . Truffle over. Are you-- don't put hearts around it!

[moralperil]

I'm sorry. I probably should've put flowers or something, since you're artistic! [Mahdi so doesn't get it.] I'll bring Truffle over a day after tomorrow? Do you like spicy food? I can teach you curry, you can even put meat in that.

[allucinator]

It's good, yeah-- what's curry? I dunno if Cassie is gonna take to him, y'know, she's not exactly nice.

[moralperil]

Curry is actually a word to describe a lot of different dishes all over from the part of Earth called Asia! Usually it's made with chili and a bunch of other spices. [Yes, Mahdi can actually be relatively smart about things that interest him.] I'm going to start you with something really basic, though, it's just a curry mix you can buy at the store and all you have to do is cook your own vegetables and meat and rice. It's simple, delicious and filling, and you can make huge batches to share with people or eat for the next few days - the flavor intensifies in the fridge! Plus it's great to make with people because there's so much chopping. I bet you're good at chopping if you cut hair, right?

[A laugh.]

I'll bring Truffle in a carrier, so Cassie can't bite him. If they decide they want to play, we'll just be careful.

[allucinator]

[He laughs softly despite himself, shaking his head.]

Jesus, I got a genuine cook on me hands, don't I? All right. I'll buy meat and rice and stuff at the store, you get the curry, and try not to get too excited, all right.

[moralperil]

I actually already have some. That's why I was so keen on it being curry. [A laugh.]

I'll try not to be... but how excited is too excited? It's not like I'm singing and dancing. [And those are apparently both things that might happen at any moment.]

[allucinator]

If you start that, I'm gonna kick you out. Fair warnin'.

[moralperil]

Fine, but you're missing out! If you sing while you cook and do chores it's so much more satisfying! [Actual Disney Princess Mahdi Clare.]

[allucinator]

No, it's just weird. You might wanna cut that out.

[moralperil]

[Complete confusion.] Why? It's not hurting anyone.

[allucinator]

Yeah, but it's . . . weird.

[He's not being hostile! Just . . . sort of vague.]

[moralperil]

Hmm.

[Mahdi taps at his cheek thoughtfully. He takes a drink, thinking something over.]

You know, I'm pretty used to being called weird! Even my own family says it sometimes!

But if you can't tell me, hey, this is wrong for whatever reason, then I'm not going to stop. Otherwise, how could I go on with my life? I'd just be pretending to be someone other people wanted me to be, and if you ask me, that's weird.

[allucinator]

[He wrinkles his nose and reaches out, gently whacking him on the arm.]

We're one drink in, stop makin' sense, kid. You want another?

[moralperil]

I'm two in! But you can buy me a third! [Mahdi smiles and raises his second drink, already halfway through. He's actually putting it away pretty quickly!]

I keep telling you, I'm not a kid. I'm just me. I've been called weird and worse by people whose opinion mattered at lot more to me than yours does, no offense.

[allucinator]

[He waves his hand, gesturing for his second and Mahdi's third.]

I'm just teasin', you know, I know you're older'n me. And I don't mean no offense by nothin'.

[moralperil]

Okay. [Mahdi looks hesitant, though.] I have trouble with sarcasm and stuff like that. Even though I know I'm lied to all the time, when someone is my friend, I want to believe they're sincere.

Which is the kind of thing people say, oh, Mahdi, you're such a dummy, and then I'm like "Hey!" and they're like, "Only kidding!" But I don't think they were...

[allucinator]

[He wrinkles his nose.]

Who says stuff like that?

[moralperil]

No one here! [Mahdi hurries to assure him.] If anyone talked to me like that now, I'd read them the riot act! Just... Someone I dated a long time ago, for a pretty long time. I guess it makes me worry about it, since it can be hard to tell sometimes.

[Realizing he's been more candid than he meant, Mahdi stares at his drink accusingly.] Vodka is... Magical, isn't it?

[allucinator]

[He huffs a soft laugh.]

You could call it that. Just don't drink enough to throw up, you won't think it so magic then.

Look, anyone talks to you like that . . . you know I'd back you up, yeah? I mean-- I know we don't know each other so well, but.

[moralperil]

That's really sweet, Jack. Thank you. [In spite of the warning, he comes close to finishing his second drink.]

The truth is if that person turned up... I'd want you to stay away. But I'm glad you'd stand up for me just the same.

[allucinator]

I've encountered worse than a nasty ex, boyo.

[He sticks his tongue out at him.]

Watch yourself, if you don't wanna get drunk. We should stop after three.

[moralperil]

[It's probably just the vodka (or kahlua), but Mahdi feels a warm flush.]

You're a really kind person, offering something like that. You don't know anything about the situation - what my people can be capable of.

[Mahdi can't criticize the sentiment, though. He's like that, too. He sticks his tongue out at Jack in return .]

Yeah, I'll keep it to that since you are prejudiced against singing and dancing!

That's not what I was talking about before, though. When I was talking about what my kind are capable of.

[allucinator]

Your kind?

[moralperil]

Greater mortals. Each of us is born with abilities that can alter reality. In other words... Magic!

[Complete with wiggly finger gestures!]