Red Wine (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
judgementor) wrote2019-10-16 08:54 pm
judgementor) wrote2019-10-16 08:54 pm
[Aefenglom IC Inbox]
*beep*
*beep*
Oi, Red Wine!
[ As ever, Steak's return home is polite and quiet, nothing loud or abrasive about it at all.
He sinks onto the couch as he enters the flat's lounge, waiting for any signs of his housemate's presence to make itself known. ]
[ As ever, Steak's return home is polite and quiet, nothing loud or abrasive about it at all.
He sinks onto the couch as he enters the flat's lounge, waiting for any signs of his housemate's presence to make itself known. ]
[It is polite and quiet, as far as Steak's entrances go. Red Wine hears him coming in before he even speaks, and rolls his eyes before he moves out of the kitchen to join him.
He doesn't sit on the couch, but stands with his arms loosely folded and a slightly irritated expression on his face.]
What do you want.
He doesn't sit on the couch, but stands with his arms loosely folded and a slightly irritated expression on his face.]
What do you want.
[ He's even been nice enough to find a bottle or two of wine, which have been placed on the coffee table. ]
What do you know about the refugees?
[ While he doesn't doubt they'll reach the same conclusion here — in the important things, they always do — there's an exchange of information they haven't taken the time to do, given everything that's happened since their arrival. ]
What do you know about the refugees?
[ While he doesn't doubt they'll reach the same conclusion here — in the important things, they always do — there's an exchange of information they haven't taken the time to do, given everything that's happened since their arrival. ]
[Oh, there's wine.
He retreats into the kitchen to get two glasses, returns, places them down and sits primly on the chair beside the couch, one knee crossed lightly over the other.]
I've heard about them from the sailors at the docks. They're very supportive of the Resistance.
He retreats into the kitchen to get two glasses, returns, places them down and sits primly on the chair beside the couch, one knee crossed lightly over the other.]
I've heard about them from the sailors at the docks. They're very supportive of the Resistance.
[ Conversations are made better with alcohol. And while Red Wine sits properly, Steak spreads out, running his hand through his hair before taking a glass and pouring it full of wine.
... No. Not with room to breathe. Just a straight up glass, like one might with water. It's hard to tell if he's doing this because he thinks it's a good idea, or because he has an intrinsic need to annoy Red Wine somehow, but he's doing it. And nor does he pour Red Wine a glass. ]
I missed that. [ But he was busy making sure people don't get beaten up by the same sailors. ] You heard that some of the Mirrorbound went there?
... No. Not with room to breathe. Just a straight up glass, like one might with water. It's hard to tell if he's doing this because he thinks it's a good idea, or because he has an intrinsic need to annoy Red Wine somehow, but he's doing it. And nor does he pour Red Wine a glass. ]
I missed that. [ But he was busy making sure people don't get beaten up by the same sailors. ] You heard that some of the Mirrorbound went there?
[He'll... let it go, for now. Deep breath. His own glass is filled half way and balanced carefully against his knee to give the flavours time to develop before he drinks any. If Steak wants to ruin his palate with his terrible wine etiquette that is entirely his own loss.
But he'll file it away as something to be annoyed about later.]
I heard. And that they liberated people being held captive.
[It's the short version, but he knows enough.]
What of it?
But he'll file it away as something to be annoyed about later.]
I heard. And that they liberated people being held captive.
[It's the short version, but he knows enough.]
What of it?
[ It's just wine. It hardly tastes any different. Just... boozy, like any other wine does.
Whatever! This is more important. ]
People are unhappy with how the government handled it. [ At least, that's what he gathered. ] Things like that can lead to trouble.
[ As Red Wine well knows. Steak doesn't like to get involved with things of a political nature without a contract, but this situation is different. They can't leave as easily as they would in Tierra. ]
Whatever! This is more important. ]
People are unhappy with how the government handled it. [ At least, that's what he gathered. ] Things like that can lead to trouble.
[ As Red Wine well knows. Steak doesn't like to get involved with things of a political nature without a contract, but this situation is different. They can't leave as easily as they would in Tierra. ]
[Steak is a philistine, and god knows why Red Wine even puts up with him.]
We don't get involved in politics. [He points out, leaning back slightly in the chair and finally taking a small, dainty sip of his wine.]
I don't expect it to be different here. Did you have something else in mind?
We don't get involved in politics. [He points out, leaning back slightly in the chair and finally taking a small, dainty sip of his wine.]
I don't expect it to be different here. Did you have something else in mind?
[ ...He's pretty? ]
We can't just leave like we did in Palata.
[ That's his main concern. There's this other city, but who knows if that's any better, given this looming threat of transforming. And... Well... ] And there are humans here that didn't ask to be part of this city's politics.
[ He'll help the citizens of this place, the Coven itself, but he feels little obligation to them beyond what he feels for any law-abiding human. But the other Mirrorbound?
Well. That's not quite the same thing, is it? ]
We can't just leave like we did in Palata.
[ That's his main concern. There's this other city, but who knows if that's any better, given this looming threat of transforming. And... Well... ] And there are humans here that didn't ask to be part of this city's politics.
[ He'll help the citizens of this place, the Coven itself, but he feels little obligation to them beyond what he feels for any law-abiding human. But the other Mirrorbound?
Well. That's not quite the same thing, is it? ]
[There are Reasons, which will not be divulged even in narration because.
reasons.
Red Wine's expression sours slightly. It's nothing to do with the wine, which is actually not bad at all, and everything to do with knowing what Steak is saying holds a level of unfortunate accuracy.]
We didn't ask to be part of this city's politics, either. I trust you haven't forgotten that.
reasons.
Red Wine's expression sours slightly. It's nothing to do with the wine, which is actually not bad at all, and everything to do with knowing what Steak is saying holds a level of unfortunate accuracy.]
We didn't ask to be part of this city's politics, either. I trust you haven't forgotten that.
[ Many reasons, all of which are bundled under they made a promise because clearly that's the only reason either of them are still around. ]
Of course not. [ But he can't ignore the reason for their very existence: to help people. ] But we should be prepared to deal with it.
[ They can avoid the politics, can work as they did on Tierra, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't be aware of it. They should at least know enough to know whether the other Mirrorbound may be in danger due to it. ]
Of course not. [ But he can't ignore the reason for their very existence: to help people. ] But we should be prepared to deal with it.
[ They can avoid the politics, can work as they did on Tierra, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't be aware of it. They should at least know enough to know whether the other Mirrorbound may be in danger due to it. ]
Red Wine?
[ Steak's voice isn't as abrasive as usual when he knocks on Red Wine's bedroom door. ]
[ Steak's voice isn't as abrasive as usual when he knocks on Red Wine's bedroom door. ]
[Sigh.]
Yes?
[He does not get up to open the door, but it isn't locked.]
Yes?
[He does not get up to open the door, but it isn't locked.]
[ And, after so long, Steak knows well enough that he can come in.
Which he does, closing the door and leaning against it. It's remarkably casual, all things considered. ]
If this transformation should claim me, I'm relying on you to kill me as well.
[ Considering he just decided to drop that bomb onto Red Wine, the leg kicked against the door and the folded arms seem far too blasé. ]
Which he does, closing the door and leaning against it. It's remarkably casual, all things considered. ]
If this transformation should claim me, I'm relying on you to kill me as well.
[ Considering he just decided to drop that bomb onto Red Wine, the leg kicked against the door and the folded arms seem far too blasé. ]
[Reclined on the bed with a book on his lap, Red Wine observes Steak silently for several long moments. Then, clicking his tongue lightly against the roof of his mouth in a soft 'tch' sound, he looks back to the pages and shakes his head.]
Obviously. You don't need to ask something like that.
Obviously. You don't need to ask something like that.
[ Perhaps it's a redundant question, true, but there's something to be said for having an oath spoken aloud the way his own has been. ]
Well... good. [ Having someone to rely on in a situation like this makes it easier. And who else would Steak consider relying on more than this bastard right here. ]
... What are you reading?
[ The abrupt change in topic is so dramatic, one might wonder whether Steak had something else on his mind and then decided not to address it.
Or, more likely, Steak is simply moving on from one thing to the next, as he always has. ]
Well... good. [ Having someone to rely on in a situation like this makes it easier. And who else would Steak consider relying on more than this bastard right here. ]
... What are you reading?
[ The abrupt change in topic is so dramatic, one might wonder whether Steak had something else on his mind and then decided not to address it.
Or, more likely, Steak is simply moving on from one thing to the next, as he always has. ]
[He closes the book with a snap.]
I'm examining my own work for errors.
[Red Wine shifts, pulling his legs in and crossing them, resting one elbow against his knee. His hair falls forwards over one shoulder.]
I promised Aziraphale I'd donate to his collection.
I'm examining my own work for errors.
[Red Wine shifts, pulling his legs in and crossing them, resting one elbow against his knee. His hair falls forwards over one shoulder.]
I promised Aziraphale I'd donate to his collection.
Your own...?
[ That gets Steak's attention. He's been writing a book?
And... is Steak growing a little paler at the thought? Maybe. Not that it has anything to do with the possible contents. ]
What is it about?
[ That gets Steak's attention. He's been writing a book?
And... is Steak growing a little paler at the thought? Maybe. Not that it has anything to do with the possible contents. ]
What is it about?
[Another of those silences stretches out while he watches Steak with those too-bright red eyes, then he sighs and lets the book fall open again. There are hand-written lines of text on the pages within, taking up over half of the book.]
Stories from Palata. Poetry. Myths.
[Nothing about you, fool.]
Stories from Palata. Poetry. Myths.
[Nothing about you, fool.]
[ Steak seems to see that as an invitation to sit on Red Wine's bed and look over the writing there, glancing over the Palatan myth written on the paper. ]
Ah, I remember that one. [ Though, as he reads further, he frowns. His Master Attendant said something slightly different about the end of it, though. ] There's a version where the squire asks his Lord for apples, instead.
Ah, I remember that one. [ Though, as he reads further, he frowns. His Master Attendant said something slightly different about the end of it, though. ] There's a version where the squire asks his Lord for apples, instead.
Mmn. This is the first version that I know of.
[He huffs out a sigh and passes the book over for Steak's perusal.]
Here, have a look. You can do it under my eye so I don't have to worry about you taking something I didn't want you to see.
[He huffs out a sigh and passes the book over for Steak's perusal.]
Here, have a look. You can do it under my eye so I don't have to worry about you taking something I didn't want you to see.
[ Why are you like this, Red Wine? ]
And what did you plan on doing when I found it at Aziraphale's shop?
And what did you plan on doing when I found it at Aziraphale's shop?
[Because the alternative is being nice, and he couldn't possibly.]
I didn't expect you'd find it in Aziraphale's shop. [Red Wine replies tartly. He shifts position on the bed and fidgets absent-mindedly with a lock of hair.]
Are you telling me you actually know how to read?
I didn't expect you'd find it in Aziraphale's shop. [Red Wine replies tartly. He shifts position on the bed and fidgets absent-mindedly with a lock of hair.]
Are you telling me you actually know how to read?
[ !!
Steak, you walked RIGHT INTO that one. ]
Why, you bastard... [ Steak why do you suck at retorts so much. ] Do I look like a fool?!
Why, you bastard... [ Steak why do you suck at retorts so much. ] Do I look like a fool?!
[He deliberately looks Steak up and down. Slowly.]
... This feels like a trick question.
... This feels like a trick question.
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