cuz though the truth may vary...

[healplz]

Date & Time: Forward dated to the 15th, evening
Location: Koltira's lake
Characters: Koltira & Ashraf
Summary: so a priest and a zombie start drinking together...
Warnings: PROBABLY NOT

[ Ashraf warps himself to the lake within five minutes of ending the call with Koltira, a bottle of scotch in one hand and two glasses in the other. He doesn't intend to drink very much, but... enough to relax. It's been a trying week and a half— nearly two weeks, really.

Just thinking of it makes him sigh. He starts toward the skeleton of the half-constructed cabin at the side of the lake, glancing around for Koltira. For once, he's moving at normal speeds, without his almost constant spell of agility. ]

Comments

[healplz]

I know. [ oh god, this again. ] I know well. But— you tried, did you not? No monster would have tried.

[ He heaves a sigh, flopping back into a recline with arms lifted to cushion his head. He has just enough presence of mind to know that he's kinda embarrassing himself here. ]

Forgive me, Koltira— I've had quite a lot.

[deadelfwalking]

[It'S ON HIS MIND OK IT HASN'T BEEN THAT LONG. Koltira's eyes follow the flop.]

I'm going to guess that you do not drink often.

[healplz]

Not often, or much. [ Kinda mumbling into a hand, here. ] It's frowned upon, in the Church.

[deadelfwalking]

[pouring him more, because Koltira is a good influence. Holds the glass over him.]

You're a long way from the Church, friend.

[healplz]

That hasn't gone unnoticed.

[ He eyes the drink for a few seconds, warily, but then smiles and takes it, propping himself up just enough to sip. ]

Pour yourself another, if you pour anything for anyone. It also hasn't gone unnoticed that I'm speaking far more loosely than you. [ read: embarrassing himself far more. ]

[deadelfwalking]

[atta boy. Koltira obliges Ashraf's request, of course. He's quite a ways away from anything even resembling inebriation, but he has made it to the 'pleasant buzz' stage.]

My speech is rarely loose.

[healplz]

[ He sets his drink down half-finished, because that seems like a safer thing to do, and makes a face at Koltira. ]

That's hardly fair.

[deadelfwalking]

[he picks up one of the bottles from the nest surrounding him and drains it.]

Such is life. [princess..]

[healplz]

[ huff, whatever. He's quiet for a few seconds, watching the lake with a small frown. ]

You know... [ What does this have to do with anything? Nothing. Is he saying it anyway? Yes. ] It's difficult to tell when you're looking, sometimes. I can't be sure I've made eye contact with you.

[deadelfwalking]

[stares. directly. at him.]

No? I will endeavor to make myself more obvious.

[healplz]

[ uh THIS IS SUDDENLY KIND OF UNCOMFORTABLE. He frowns, shrugging an arm up to shield himself from it. ]

My... thanks. That's very kind.

[deadelfwalking]

[he laughs.]

And yet you clearly cannot tolerate it.

[healplz]

Tolerate it? I can tolerate it.

[ ...This arm-shield isn't going anywhere, though. ]

...I only choose not to subject myself to you and that scrutiny, is all.

[deadelfwalking]

[he's teasing, but his voice tends to be just as inscrutable as his eyes. dead-pan darth vader etc.]

What's to scrutinize? Your expressions, by contrast, are always perfectly clear.

[healplz]

They aren't that perfectly clear. [ okay fine finally dropping this arm so he can FROWN AT YOU. ] I am perfectly capable of keeping thoughts and such concealed, when necessary.

[deadelfwalking]

[mission accomplished. He shuts one eye, grinning.]

You're an open book. [swills from another bottle.] An open hymnal, even.

[healplz]

I'm not.

[ He scowls, even if there's good humor buried somewhere under it, and waves a hand toward Koltira. There's a sound like the buzz of static as his magic works, and Koltira should find himself pretty effectively mute. And unable to cast any magic, but it's the former Ashraf casts it for. ]

If you disagree with me, you need only say so.

[deadelfwalking]

[Ashraf, you sassy little bitch. Koltira's at first irritated, then just bemused. He shakes his head, picks up a stick, and draws in the dirt:

I D I S A G R E E.]

[healplz]

[ And, sitting up, Ashraf drags a foot across the letters to obscure them as if by accident, hardly even having looked. And this might be a smirk, here. ]

I thought you would see things as I do.

[deadelfwalking]

[clearing his throat once the spell wears off.]

You've grown a sense of humor. Fantastic.

[healplz]

[ Okay, the smirk is back to being just a smile, and he reaches out to clasp Koltira's forearm apologetically. ]

Forgive me, that was a poor use of my spells. [ totally worth it, tho. ]

[deadelfwalking]

[he can't retaliate, because even his silences are based around CHOKING A BITCH, but he just shrugs. Eyes on the forearm clasp.

Koltira murmurs.]

How curious that someone like you should be my only friend here.

[healplz]

[ Even if it's hard to tell where glowy eyes are looking, Ashraf doesn't miss that. He eventually drops his hand again, but settles himself near enough that their arms brush. he ain't afraid of no cold. ]

You would have more, if you only allowed it. [ ...but wait. after a beat he frowns. ] Someone like me?

[deadelfwalking]

[he soundly rejects that assertion, but he decides to address the other part of Ashraf's response instead. Lightly.]

A priest with a deep-seated hatred for all that I am?

[healplz]

Ah, that. [ "ah, that" NO BIG DEAL. He shrugs a little, the smile back again. ] You won me over, my friend. The first of many, would be the logical thought.