(a bunch of people are pissed off.)

[ioudas]

WHO: cross marian (ioudas) and a bunch of people who are pissed off at him (& maybe a new friend!)
WHERE: around the city
WHEN: saturday morning - sunday night
WARNINGS: once again, cross
SUMMARY: Cross is finally back in the City, not without consequence.
FORMAT: quick.



(He doesn't want to be back in the City, but he doesn't feel like he should be anywhere else. Since his travels to the many water worlds weren't all that adventurous (who knew that some things didn't change), he was restless. He couldn't stay at home because timcampy had taken to watching his every move and even when he was out, he was sure that the tiny gold golem was watching him.

So, he set out to do what he always does as a consequence of his bad decisions- make more of them.)

Comments

[ioudas]

(He must have been too relaxed, that's why he was spotted. Though, for a while in Nepal, he had half expected Shade to just appear out of nowhere from his own shadow.

Maybe, while he was in the throes of passion with someone, he'd just look up and there would be Shade, silently judging him. The sad part was that the thought sometimes gave him some comfort that he was doing something normal, rather than running away from everyone.)

Of all the people to find me here, it had to be you.

[foreshadower]

And is that so bad a thing, General?

[ The Shade's slight smile was only belied in small ways, the way his lips were a bit too strained, eyes behind his sunglasses a touch darker than normal. It wasn't so much that he was pissed at Cross for running, but really.

There were some ways to deal with stress that were simply laughable. ]

[ioudas]

It seems that being alone comes at a high price.

(The passive aggressiveness is enough for Cross to get the hint.) Please, why don't you invite yourself?

(Non-enthusiastically said, as he offers a seat to the other man.)

[foreshadower]

[ Oh, well, he didn't mind if he did take a seat. The restaurateur had not been by to take their orders, so it was hardly a trouble. Other than having to deal with Shade's standards, but oddly enough, most restaurants knew him by now.

Well. He did enjoy eating out quite a bit. ]

Isn't it better to have company, though?

[ioudas]

I'm starting to notice that I can't escape it.

(His lip curls a little bit, staring at the menu rather at Shade.)

How early is too early for tequila?

[foreshadower]

Tequila? No time is appropriate for tequila, thank you. What a disgusting liquor.

[ Shade waved a hand, almost amused, but mostly annoyed with what he considered a much inferior drink. ]

Perhaps you should try something with a bit more body, hm? Something with a decent flavor?

[ioudas]

Yeah, but after a few shots, you forget that you're drinking it. That's the point.

(Cross doesn't care. He has a headache, and all he wants is to forget that he has one.)

Pick one, I don't care.

[foreshadower]

Personally, I'll have an absinthe. [ And, conveniently. There is a waitress. She obviously heard it, because she's already jotting it down. ]

And the special. Perhaps you would enjoy a malt, General? Something to soothe your throat as well as burn it?

[ioudas]

It's not the one that they banned, though.

(God, that sounds so good right now. He orders some for himself, maybe for them to just keep the top shelf coming as well.)

Whatever, as long as I don't remember that we even ordered it, I'm fine.

[foreshadower]

It's legal now, here in the states. Thank goodness. It was such a pain smuggling it, and too few actually do it right.

[ He waved a hand. ] Care for something to eat, as well?

[ioudas]

It was a lot easier when you were above the law.

(he makes a face at the mention of his old job - the one that assassinated him by the way - and just shakes his head.)

The food gets in the way of the binge drinking.

[foreshadower]

Hah! [ He laughed, but shook his head. ] Believe me, I am still that.

[ He waved the waitress on, indicating she could get that taken care of. He didn't quite get that Cross was thinking of himself, reveling too much in the fact that he was finally back to his old self. ]

You just haven't learned to appreciate the best of foods, it seems. Believe you me, there is fewer joys in the world, than food.

[ioudas]

Aren't you lucky.

(He might sound a little bitter, but Cross has a lot on his mind. He orders the first thing he sees, not really hungry as he needs a drink.)

Fine, fine, you talk about food like I talk about the perfect woman. (Whom he fucked things up with.) What did I miss?

[foreshadower]

[ He laughed, and he waved a hand. ]

Oh no, now you must elaborate. It's always so interesting to hear of other people's personal lives.

[ There was, oddly enough, a touch of amusement. ]

[ioudas]

Mine's not that interesting. Although, I can't believe I missed Saint Patrick's Day. And National Redhead Day.

(he's really bummed about all of that, you see.)

Besides, what have you been up to?

[foreshadower]

Very little. Aiding a young shadow user in the craft, and being drug into other dimensions, it seems. Nothing of import, I'm afraid.

[ Conversely, Shade didn't want to speak on being drug to another universe. On the experience of not having his powers. He'd loathed fewer things than that in all of his days. ]

[ioudas]

Oh, you got the fun one. I was on the cannibal cruise. (with no magic that thankfully know one knows that he has.)

Seriously? There's no new Shadette that I need to meet?

[foreshadower]

Alas, my friend. I'm afraid I tend to avoid romance as a whole. I'm immortal, you understand. It's hardly worth it to become attached, only to watch her slowly die.

[ That wasn't to say that Shade didn't have his own one night stands, but none recently. He was hardly going to put himself out there for no cause, and he could live without it. ]

[ioudas]

(It hits a little close to home, especially with relationships. His bedroom burned this morning and he needs a new mirror and sets of drapes. Emotions, what are you going to with them.)

I need something stronger than an absinthe.

[foreshadower]

Later, later.

[ He leaned forward. ]

Temper yourself first, I promise, it makes the payoff much better, for a night of drinking.

[ioudas]

(His smile was tight, but when Shade leaned forward, Cross leaned back.)

Now you're the expert on binge drinking.

[foreshadower]

I'm the expert on knowing how to handle my liquor, yes.

[ He didn't move. If anything, he seemed to be closer, without even moving. ]

I am Victorian, remember? You had to drink to live through some parts of it.

[ioudas]

Right, I forgot we were from the same age.

(Cross just doesn't know anymore, trying to create some distance between the two of them. Shade doesn't need to see how terrible Cross looks like right now.)

[foreshadower]

[ He may not need to, but Shade is observant. He waves a hand, indicating the rest of the room. ]

And yet you're here, among the masses. Most from our age would have had well enough.

[ioudas]

I'm sure you know that I didn't want to be here.

(he had to be dragged from Nepal; there was a chase and everything. but, he's trying to make the most of it, as he does with everything.)