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

[deadelfwalking]

Well. [lookin' into the bottle, quietly.] Don't be too generous, now. Many of us are not worthy of your kindness.

[including me, he's thinking, helplessly.]

[healplz]

Kindness is given to all, worthy or not. It's the admiration I've come to feel for you that is more sparing.

[ But this time he actually resists launching into anything too passionate! He bites back the rest and glances around for his drink instead. He's left it sitting somewhere around here... ]

[deadelfwalking]

[aw honey, he'd blush if his body was still capable. As it stands, he nudges that drink over to Ashraf, then picks up his own.]

I've come to admire you as well, despite our initial ... friction. [lifting the glass to Ashraf.] Of course, I've forgiven worse than threats to my life.

[healplz]

[ Oh look, his wayward booze has found its way home. He wraps both hands around it fondly, smiling down into it. ]

It isn't as though they were ever true threats. I've come to realize that my opposing you was... something like a lapdog yapping at a wolf. A bear, perhaps.

[deadelfwalking]

[flatly, though he's smiling.]

Yes, it was exactly like that.

[healplz]

[ There's a brief grin, but it's back to that quietly amused little smile by the time he downs the rest of his drink. ]

Well, then thank you for not killing me, Koltira. I don't believe I've said that yet.

[deadelfwalking]

[emphatically.] I would not have forgiven myself if I had.

[healplz]

[ oh pshaw. He waves a hand, alcohol doing wonders for his usually sparse gesticulation. ]

Even if I had forced your hand? You didn't know me from the next man, then.

[ It all seems so much less serious in retrospect and through the haze of drink. Matters of life and death? Whatever. ]

[deadelfwalking]

You were defenseless. There is no honor in such a kill.

[glances at his supply. Man, he's actually starting to run low, over here. Sighing.]

Besides which, I would have done it outside of my own power. If I am going to kill someone--if I am going to do anything, I want it to be my decision.

[that's the most important thing, that's what he struggles for most of all--the strength to be his own person, and make choices that he can say, with certainty, are his own.]

[healplz]

[ Well that's definitely not his fault about the supply, he's not the man with the iron stomach and constitution. As is made pretty apparent by this slightly dopey smile. ]

Well, then it is a very good thing for both of us that you did not. If you will forgive my saying, perhaps slightly the better for me.

[deadelfwalking]

[noting the dopey smile ... he is glad that he didn't kill Ashraf, and glad that the man has come to visit him, monstrous as he believes himself to be.

He eyes shift away, towards some point in the middle distance.]

Perhaps that's enough for you. I would not want you to become ill.

[healplz]

Those were my concerns two drinks ago. Now, I've resigned myself to it. [ Another sip, to prove it. ] But it's good of you to care, my friend.

[deadelfwalking]

[frowning, wincing internally at 'friend'.]

At this rate, you won't even make it back to your warp.

[healplz]

My warp is where ever I place it. Although... [ a thoughtful frown! ] I may find my way to the wrong apartment.

[ Kidding, kidding. ...Mostly. ]

[deadelfwalking]

[shaking a bottle to see what's left of it--not much. He downs it.]

In that case, it might be wise for you to return, before the situation becomes too dire.

[healplz]

[ That gets a glance over the rim of his glass, one brow cocked. ]

Are you looking to hurry your guest away? [ Because man, sloshed as he is, he'll still respect the crap out of hospitality rules. ]

[deadelfwalking]

[not lookin' back.]

No. I like to have you with me. [but you shouldn't be here, nevertheless.]

[healplz]

[ ...Aww. He spends a second trying to judge the sincerity of the answer, before deciding that's a little useless, because Koltira would hardly err on the side of sparing feelings. He smiles instead, setting his glass down again. ]

Then I believe I have a few hours still left in me.

[deadelfwalking]

[he is most definitely not one to spare feelings. repress his own, however ...]

As you like.

[healplz]

[ He watches the lake for a few seconds, idly re-noticing the chill from that tall dead guy sitting next to him. (Eerie. But probably wonderful on a hot day.) ]

I'm beginning to feel somewhat self-conscious. [ Is he really going to have to be the only one that gets drunk here... ]

[deadelfwalking]

I'm afraid it requires quite a lot of alcohol for me to really feel the effects. [more than they have on hand, tbh. SORRY ASHRAF ...]

[healplz]

[ HE SIGHS, but... shrugs. Such is life, he's doomed to make a fool of himself tonight. ]

Then you must promise not to remind me of anything I say or do tonight, tomorrow.

[deadelfwalking]

[he just laughs.] You've hardly been untoward, Ashraf.

[healplz]

The night is young, and I've already cast one Lex Divina on you. [ He'd feel bad about that if he were more sober, but at least he knows he should feel bad about it. ]

[deadelfwalking]

[mildly.] If I became upset every time someone tried to silence me, I'd be far worse off than I already am.