sunseeker | an ill-advised venture (for sarcaskick)

... You've quite a way with words, don't you? [ Though sarcasm aside, she sounds more amused than annoyed. ] Mayhap you can find out if you pick up the tab, though I'm told it's the annoying kind, as a forewarning.

[ Fair is fair! She seems to be half-laughing as she takes another swig.

Slightly less amused when she spots one of the previously mentioned unsavory characters enter--a tall man she can recognize from of the leves. She'd honestly assumed Mercury was just kidding about smashing heads for the night, and yet... This does make her wonder. ]

If I'm paying for the drinks then I better be getting some...

[ He follows her gaze to the focus of her attention, eyebrow arching at the sight of the man who he most definitely did not know would be here tonight.

Followed, shortly, by a grin. ]

... action.

[ His eyes drift back to M'ahina, fingertips drumming against the table as he takes a moment to down the rest of his ale. ]

Don't tell me he's your type?

[ mercury ]

[ How interesting! Is that confidence, perchance, or merely fishing for a reaction? Answers to such questions make a far more interesting game to her than the prospect of a brawl, as it were, though she did make that warning before they entered. As is, she simply beams. ]

Hmm. That depends! [ She tosses back the rest of her drink herself. ] I wouldn't want to make it too easy, now would I?

[ She moves the empty cup through her fingers as though swirling invisible liquid, debating on more, though she does make another glance toward the would-be target before meeting Mercury's gaze. ]

It's your choice.

[ To spring to action, or to continue drinks instead? ]

[ And what a choice it is. On the one hand, his meal ticket - because yes, okay, he totally intends to cash in on the bounty. It was an easy mark right in the middle of his usual turf, and he definitely needs the money.

But the guy just got here. He's not going anywhere for a while.

And there's something in her damn smile that makes him hesitate to get up.

So he relents, lifting a hand to gesture to the bartender for a refill. ]

Well if you're going to make a challenge of it, who am I to turn it down?

[ She laughs--she can't help it. This is crossing into her idea of good time: getting to know people. Whichever form that might take. There are more than one ways to make friends, after all, and she certainly feels this counts. ]

Does that answer your type, then? [ Someone comes by, and she takes a bit of her refreshed glass gratefully. ] I'm flattered. ... And surprised. I was almost certain I'd have to get up. [ Tragic! ] This, I prefer. The chance to simply relax is rare indeed.

[ Or so it is for M'ahina. Life rarely allows her, these days. ]

[ It's usually the opposite of a good time for him, but she's a rare case. He'll humor the opportunity until he gets bored. What's the harm?

He grins a little wider, taking a drink from his now-refilled mug. ]

You still might have to - that's all up to whether I get bored. Keep my interest, and those - [ he points at her glass ] - will keep coming. So...

[ He rests his chin against a closed fist, elbow on the table, and-- winks. ]

... maybe that tells you about my type.

You make it sound as though you're hoping I'll get deep enough in my cups to make a few bad desicions.

[ ... She says, continuing to drink. She is far from gone; her chosen drink isn't terribly strong overall, more suited to a pleasant warm in the extremeties than for truly getting away from one's self. But it's doing a rather good job of it, and she's naught if not a bit impulsive. Though, she does wonder. ]

And what, pray tell, are you interested in? Simply my reputation, or something else?

[ it's not as though she'd be offended either way, but it's good information to have. ]

Any decision you can walk away from can't be that bad.

[ ... it would not be a lie to say that Mercury is not a good influence on people. It is also probably not a lie to say that Mercury himself is, in many ways, not a good person. He does what pays the bills. Sometimes that aligns with good morality. Often, it doesn't.

He doesn't lose sleep over it.

But tonight he's just a snarky, confident jerk having drinks with a walking legend. Everyone wears different hats now and then. ]

Reputation, sure. And I'm going to have to see the great Eikon Slayer in action at some point. But, if I'm being honest - and I never lie [ bullshit ] - then I can't say looks don't play into things.

Hm... I don't disagree.

[ In a practical sense, at least. The reality is that she's never managed to be very callous, and tends to carry those things with her. For as much as she does try to do good, few ever realize there's a normal person underneath it all. A girl barely out of maidenhood, at that.

... Well. Another thing to shove down. Right now, she'd rather focus on something more enjoyable. ]

Oh? [ She laughs. ] I do enjoy flattery. You're not unpleasant to look at yourself. Although... [ Hm, how to put such a thing-- ] Before aught else, mayhap you could share your intentions. Is this meant to be a one time affair, or...?

[ It's not as though she expects it go anywhere, but managing my one's expectations is important. ]

[ Without warning he reaches across the table to grab her free hand with his own, eyes wide, lashes fluttering. ]

Love, marriage, kids, and happily ever after!

[ The act ends as quickly as it began, and he slumps back into his seat with a shrug. ]

I don't really think ahead like that. I just do what feels right moment by moment. What's meant to be, will be.

[ That... catches her somewhat off guard. It should not, given the rest of their interactions, and yet here they are. ]

Are you--[ making fun of me, she would have continued, but she manages to stop herself and shakes her head. And gulps back the rest of her cup in record time. ]

I must not be drunk enough yet.

[ Clearly the most logical conclusion. ]

[ Don't take it personally, he makes fun of everyone.

He laughs at her determination to get through her drink as quickly as possible, and after a moment follows suit. These are the decisions being made.

Surely nothing bad will come of it. ]

If you're really in a rush, wine might not be the way to go.

I wouldn't want to push myself too hard, or I may just ruin your shoes instead.

[ Not that she's a lightweight, but she is quite small. Three is still a lot even for the content, is it not? ... Is it three? It may be three. A fourth wouldn't be the worst, probably, so she waves someone over again. ]

It's enough to feel ... pleasant? [ Not fully drunk, but certainly a little inebriated. ] But one could always feel more so ...

[ They are certainly decisions. ]

[ In what might be his first totally honest reaction of the night, Mercury cringes at the mention of her even possibly throwing up on his boots. Good footwear is hard to come by, especially for him.

... more on that later

But he recovers, joining her in calling for a refill, humming in thought for a second. ]

What if... we make a game of it? It's kind of childish, but "never have I ever" would work.

[ Normally a game where you reveal things about yourself would really not be his thing, but alcohol has a way of loosening lips. ]

Well...

[ She taps her chin in thought. It's an intriguing thought. She does like the idea of learning more, and she does not particularly mind sharing, and yet... ]

I'm interested, but it's a somewhat difficult game for me. I'm hard pressed to think of things I have not done.

[ The worst part is, she's not boasting. It's a just a perfectly innocent comment. ]

Oh really.

[ That's a remark which is extremely open to interpretation, and honestly it only invites a thousand questions, but... ]

You got a better idea, then?

I do not, but... No need to get discouraged! I suppose we'll just have to make them ... difficult?

[ And this would suggest she is indeed slightly inebriated; she is all but oblivious to how what she's saying right now could be construed. She even takes another sip of wine with a big smile. ]

[ Somewhere in the back of his mind, he's vaguely aware of the fact that he was originally here with the intent to get some business done. The deeper they get in the drinks, the less likely that is.

... but that guy will probably still be in the area tomorrow, is his tipsy conclusion.

So he settles in for the long haul, leaning forward with his arm against the table. ]

I'm sure we'll manage. Want to do the honors of kicking us off?

I'm to set the tone, am I? Hm.

[ There's things she would like to ask; she's the sort to delve into people's hopes and dreams. What motivates them. She is, however, at least vaguely aware she's issued some sort of challenge, so she'll have to uphold that somehow. ]

Alright... Never have I ever faked affection in order to get into one's drawers.

[ It feels it could go an interesting direction, at least. ]

...

[ . . . ]

I mean, I'd argue that they mistook flattery for affection, but...

[ ... but he still takes a drink, is the thing. Sure, maybe he intentionally toed the line sometimes. He's not a hero. ]

I'm hurt that that's where your mind went first, though. Heartbroken.

Oh...? [ That's interesting. She wasn't expecting to touch upon something form the first. In truth, she's less curious about whatever happened than the fact he did not choose to lie about it; it would have been simple enough. Though her thoughts end at simple curiosity. A touch less wine and she might be making all kinds of hare-brained theories trying to figure him out right now. ] Well... The knowledge is safe with me. It's as I said before--I wouldn't want to make things too easy.

[ Though she is not drinking herself. ]

I suppose you'll be wanting revenge now?

[ When the job doesn't call for it, Mercury is... generally not a liar. He's too shameless to feel like he has to lie, for better or (usually) worse. ]

I would.

[ The question, now is this: does he want to use this as a chance to actually learn something about her, or to just make her drink?

The former can come later; for now, revenge. ]

Never have I ever had sex in the middle of a crowded tavern.

Like this one.

Oh, I...

[ She swallows; her throat suddenly feels a bit dry. Mayhap she deserved that. ]

Not ... in the the middle of one, no.

[ She's not embarrassed, but she does suddenly feel somewhat frozen into place. Is it purely for the shock value, or could he be thinking about...?

She crosses her her ankles under the table. Though she is not aware of it, her tail is beginning to give an agitated little flick. ]

[ Ah. For the first time tonight, there's a crack in her armor, and unfortunately even in his increasingly inebriated state Mercury isn't one to let an opportunity slip by. There's a curl of his lips, a gleam in his eye that the alcohol can't properly dull. ]

"Not in the middle"? So... behind the tavern, then? Or on the roof, you sly thing?

[ He rests his chin in the palm of his hand, eyeing her expectantly. Whether for an answer or for her to drink, who's to say. ]

an ill-advised venture (for sarcaskick)

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Omfg this is has been in my browser since last night I thought i posted it??

I do that like once a week so i know the struggle LMAO also 1/2

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