i wish i could be like all the cool kids (open to e'ryone)

[resleeves]

» WHO? takeshi kovacs + anyone
» WHEN? may twentieth and several days after that
» WHERE? observation deck, fitness area, bar
» WHAT? getting the lay of the land, trying to get as drunk as possible, wondering how many people he can piss off
» WARNINGS? there's going to be swearing but other than that, nothing planned. i'll adjust if that changes.

.001 OBSERVATION DECK

[ his arrival had been one lacking pain. surprising considering he'd been ready to die when he'd looked up and seen the face of a ghost. but, that ghost had never been holding a bloody sword before. that ghost had never killed before.

when he'd closed his eyes it was with the certainty that he'd wake up in a different sleeve. when he'd opened them, the sleeve had been the same (fucking ryker) and he was some place that he'd never been before with none of his possessions.

what a fucking joke.

after figuring out that this place wasn't some vr simulation meant to torture him senseless, he'd mostly wandered. and those wanderings often brought him to the observation area in the hopes that he'd see something familiar.

hell, he would've taken the aerium at this point. ultra rich meths would be at least something he recognized. but, all he could see were stars and the planet below. the two moons were oddly reminscient of harlan's world but he knew there was no way that was happening.

for one, the planet didn't look like a steaming pile of ash.

kovacs does nothing more than stand there, statue still, and stare.

and he does it for what seems like hours. ]

.002 FITNESS AREA

[ kovacs has never really exercised, so to speak. most of the time, the only training he's needed is the one provided first by ctac and then the envoys. after that, he'd spent his time as a mercenary but he doesn't think killing for money really counts as exercise.

how he's found his way here, he doesn't know but he sure as shit isn't working out. he's found one of the benches and he's lying on it, staring up at the ceiling. every so often he mutters something intelligible but most of the time, he's there to take up space and observe anyone who might come in to try and better themselves.

kovacs really kind of misses his backpack.

.003 BAR

[ he's drunk but you would probably never know. after all the drugs that he's put into his body in his lifetime, being drunk is nothing. now, if he'd had some reaper to go along with it, than it'd be a party.

he'd gone through a few different bottles, uncaring of what they were and if they were open or not. if he's gonna die, he wants to go happily since it's not like his stack's gonna be shoved into a new sleeve in this place. no one know how the fuck do to that here. ]

I feel ripped off. No dancing girls, no dancing boys, no dancing nothing. Just alcohol.

[ this place needed...something. tender loving care? kovacs doesn't know, doesn't care. he slides the empty glass back towards the edge of the bar and watches it teeter off and crash to the ground, breaking and scattering glass upon impact. ]

Oops. Hope someone's around to clean that up.

[ because he wasn't doing it. ]

Comments

3

[inwaits]

[ giselle wasn't in the bar herself. she wasn't a drinker. or rather, she'd never had the opportunity to drink — that's kind of how it goes when you spend most of your adult life as a servant.

she does hear the crash, however, and it's enough to make her enter the bar, concerned that someone may have hurt themselves or something major have been broken. what she finds isn't quite as concerning, but she's used to drunk, angry men, and she knows how self-destructive they can get. she approaches tentatively, reaching to pick up some of the pieces. she pricks her skin and draws a little blood, but doesn't flinch — her time as a maid gave her an instinct for fixing other people's mistakes. ]

Do you need any help to your room, sir?

Re: 3

[resleeves]

[ for a long time, kovacs doesn't answer. at first, he's not aware she's even talking to him but when more and more time passes without someone responding to her question, he realizes it's because she's waiting for him to say something. so, he does. ]

Are you fucking serious?

[ it was, in his mind, the most logical thing to say when faced with a question such as hers. ]

Why would I need help from you? Or anyone? Does it look like I'm done drinking?

[ he just needed a new glass. ]

[inwaits]

[ she winces, though this is about what she would expect from an inebriated man. she remembers her time under the young businessman, remembers the abuses he threw like candy for children. she grimaces, but doesn't seem to protest, instead choosing to cover her hand with her sleeve so she doesn't cut it worse as she picks up the shards of glass. someone had to do it. ]

If you say so. I just thought I would offer a hand. We should be conscious of each other's needs while here.

[resleeves]

I don't need anyone else to be conscious of my needs. I can take care of myself.

[ that's what he's been doing for centuries now. even when he was on ice, he was technically on his own even if he wasn't aware. attachments were just too dangerous, too stupid. people died. people left. you could rely on one person in your life -- yourself. ]

Is that your thing, then? Offering random strangers help?

[ it was ballsy if it was anything considering she had no idea who he was and what he could do. had to give her points for not shying away like a lot of people did. ]

Someone's gonna take you up on it at some point and you're gonna end up spit shining someone's shoes.

[inwaits]

Mm.. not quite.

[ not by choice, at least. she'd been thrust into a life of servitude. she largely didn't mind it. it was humbling work. ]

You say that as if I haven't done that many times over. [ and then there was the treacherous stuff — the things she regretted doing, even if she wasn't in her right mind when she did them, even if it had been her fate-bound duty to go through with it. spit shining shoes was only the tip of the iceberg when it came to her dignity. ] I take it you'd prefer to be alone.

[ another skill of the trade: making yourself scarce. ]

[resleeves]

[ did he want to be alone? the obvious answer was yes, yes he did. but, maybe he could get some information out of whoever this is. maybe she'd been here longer. maybe he'd gotten used to talking to poe and now that he was completely separated from all that, he was bored. ]

I prefer to not be on this fucking station but my wishes have never come true.

[ he shrugs and sits up, takes her in quickly before his eyes settle on her face. ]

Why're you offering to help me? You don't know me. I could be anyone. Is your need to help overwhelming your sense of self preservation?

[inwaits]

Do you need to know someone to want to help them?

[ an honest question. did she still live in a world where it was foolish to engage with others? was she an idiot for that? ]

N—No.. I want to live, like everyone else. I thought.. I could at least try to make it easier for everyone, in whatever way that I can, while we're stuck on this cursed vessel.

[ but if the only way she could help was by not helping.. well, she could do that too. she could wait patiently. she was good at that. ]

he's such a prick, bless you for tagging him

[resleeves]

I just prefer not helping. It saves me a lot of time and energy. My time is valuable.

[ time that he was currently spending drinking and making messes. maybe not the best first impression to give to whoever was running this place but they'd been the ones to bring him here, if they didn't know his background, that was there fucking fault. ]

Make it easier.

[ kovacs really wishes he had a cigarette right now. his fingers twitch with the desire but there's only air and nothing else. maybe he just needs to drink more. ]

I think what would be easier would to not be here.

[ but that didn't appear to be a choice right now. fucking of course. ]

Making yourself into a door mat isn't a good look.

HAHA he's actually unexpectedly very similar to her former employer so she's used to it!!

[inwaits]

Of course.

[ that's all she can say while maintaining a veneer of politeness. anything else would be taken as snide, whether she meant it that way or not. this man was disagreeable and unhappy, but she hoped he wasn't always like this.. for his own sake, really. she hated seeing people like this. ]

That's not— Mm.. [ well, she can't argue with it. she'd lived for centuries as a doormat. ] I'm working on it. We're all on a journey of some kind.

[resleeves]

You read that in a card somewhere? Or was that wisdom imparted by one of those who used you as a doormat?

[ she hadn't denied it so kovacs was just going to go ahead and take it fact. at this point, even if she did deny it, he'd probably think she was lying. ]

My journey doesn't involve helping anyone else.

[ so he says. probably wouldn't hold true. but maybe it would. ]

What kind of journey do you think this is? One of self discovery? You do realize we're prisoners, right?

[inwaits]

Someone told me something similar once.

[ it had stuck with her, been her shield from the world. it was a stupid thing to say, needlessly romantic, but the idea had helped her. ]

Well.. at first, I thought we were in Heaven. We are among the stars, after all. But there must be some reason for all of this. Nothing in this world.. is senseless.

3

[lightduties]

[There is indeed someone entering the bar right as the glass slips off and smashes on the ground. The person in question would seem like a short human, if it weren't for the pair of snowy white cat ears crowning his head, a loop of brass piercing each ear, and a long fluffy tail. His eyes seem normal enough, but a hint of elongated canines can be spotted when he speaks.

Sadly he is not a dancing boy.

He tilts his head, addressing the stranger.]

Too much to drink already?

[Nevertheless, in absence of an actual bartender, Rhea'li strides forward to look for a dustpan and brush.]

Re: 3

[resleeves]

[ kovacs is not that drunk but he wonders for a second if maybe someone's slipped something into his drink when he spots the ears. he assumes that they're part of some costume, a little something for the kinkier folks, and doesn't dwell on them too much.

yet. ]

What, I have to be here a certain amount of time before I drink too much? The fuck kind of rule is that?

[ didn't matter if it was written in stone somewhere. he didn't care. he was stuck on some nondescript station so he was going to drink in the absence of his backpack full of supplies. ]

[lightduties]

[Time? Nay. Don't mind him as he disappears behind the counter in his search for dustpan and brush, tail waving behind him.]

Not a rule. A guideline.

[Aha! Found them! He stands, commenting--]

But a drink on the floor is hardly a drink at all. If you can't keep yours in one piece, then I would gladly take it off your hands..

[He could use a drink. Though he'd come to the bar hoping there would be more people present. Like an actual bar.]

[resleeves]

Are you really going to clean up after me?

[ kovacs can't even remember the last time someone did that for him. maybe after one of his jobs, someone he was working with cleaned the blood off of him or flicked some brain matter off his jacket but that's different than what's what happening now.

kovacs can only fix the furry thing a look of amusement and pity. ]

I don't need your guidelines. Done fine without them so far.

[ of course, he was stuck here now but he's pretty sure that hadn't been any fault of his. it had just been...the world fucking him over again right as he'd been about to get a piece of his life back. ]

If you want some booze, just get it. If you really want to pick up after me, I'll be sure to call you when I need my shit washed and dried.

[lightduties]

[Please don't call him to do laundry. Though Rhea'li knows that if this guy actually did, he probably would undertake the task regardless.]

It matters not that the dropped glass is yours, only that it needs removing.

[But before he does that, Rhea'li puts the dustpan and brush down on one of the drinks cabinets behind the bar and turns to take one of the bottles this stranger has amassed. It might even be the one he was going to drink next. If the guy doesn't stop him, he's uncapping it and taking a generous swig of whatever paint thinner is in there.]

[resleeves]

Wow.

[ really, all kovacs can do is stare for a long moment. ]

You hear that shit in church? Or is that jewel something you came up with all on your own? Feel like I should write it down so I can remember it for the next time I make a mess.

[ he mimes writing, an invisible pen scrawling down a note on paper that doesn't exist before he caps the pen and pretends to throw it away. ]

Gonna clean that up too?

[ the only saving grace this furry stranger has is that he's at least drinking without lecturing on the dangers of alcohol and how it wouldn't be wise to get drunk in a place that you were unfamiliar with.

it's small but it's something. ]

[lightduties]

[When he's done drinking a quarter of the bottle, Rhea'li stops and wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. The alcohol in there tastes like shit if he's quite honest, but it's not like he has things like Standards when it comes to grog.

The corner of his mouth curls up at the mention of church as he sets his bottle down -- behind the bar, out of Kovac's reach; that bottle's his now -- so he can pick up the dustpan and brush. He doesn't respond to the first part of Kovac's comments, instead replying--]

If I feel like it.

[--before he starts cleaning up the glass from the floor.

He's still not entirely sure what the remains of the Orthodox Church thinks of him after he killed their Archbishop, nevermind everything else that came with the end of the Dragonsong War. For some of the clergy, it must be hard to relinquish the power they held over the people. For others, their duties to aid those in need remain the same, made more difficult by the disillusionment of their followers after the Church's lies came to light.]

How many of the bottles have you consumed?

[resleeves]

Not enough.

[ he still remembered his name and he still remembered all the shit that had happened recently so drinking to forget wasn't going well. what he needed was something stronger but in the absence of his backpack and not knowing where the fuck the drugs might be kept on his station, he was drinking. ]

Okay, I can't hold myself back anymore. Why are you wearing those ears? This station a little kinkier than I gave it credit for?

[lightduties]

[So he's that kind of guy, huh? The sort who drinks and drinks and drinks until he passes out. And not in the fun kind of way.

The ears do, in fact, twitch slightly at the question, though it may be hard ot see while Rhea'li is crouched behind the counter and sweeping up glass. He doesn't answer until he straightens up so he can face the stranger when he responds.]

They're mine.

[It's almost like people here haven't met a miqo'te before. He tips the shards of broken glass away for disposal, puts down the dustpan and brush, picks up his bottle of alcohol and takes another swig before leaning against the counter.]

I'd hardly be wearing what is part of me.

[resleeves]

They're yours.

[ The disbelief is very evident in his tone and in his expression. He tips his head this way and that, trying to find some band that attaches the ears to the head but every thing looks seamless.]

Uh huh.

[ Body modifications have come a long way, haven't they? ]

Does that make you part cat? You gonna start cleaning yourself with your own tongue in a minute?

oops 3!

[marineris]

[Bobbie's not drunk, though she wishes she were. She doesn't think it's a great idea to get totally sloshed when she has no idea if the old inhabitants of the station are going to suddenly appear and throw them in the brig, or if something is going to explode or aliens are going to show up or... whatever. There's a laundry list of shit that can go wrong at all times, she's discovered.

So she's nursing her drink when the guy a few seats down starts to complain, and she watches with raised eyebrows as he shoves the glass to the floor. Great. One of these.]

It sure as shit isn't going to be me.

Re: oops 3!

[resleeves]

[ ignoring everyone else in the bar isn't the same as not being aware of them. he'd known someone else was there as soon as he'd sat down but he just hadn't cared when there was alcohol to drink and a buzz to try and grab.

the buzz is still elusive but the person's decided to make herself known so might as well see if she's entertaining at all. ]

I don't know, it sounds to me like you're denying yourself what you really want.

[ he smirks and glances at her from the corner of her eye. ]

Go ahead, clean up the mess. I won't tell anyone that you gave in to your deepest desires to pick up after others.

[ well, he thinks it's amusing but he's also an asshole so that's not saying much. ]

But, if you really don't want to, guess it's gonna sit there and collect dust. Oh darn.

[marineris]

You sound so heartbroken.

[Bobbie knocks back the rest of her drink, shooting the glass an unimpressed look.]

You're pretty determined to get me to pick that up, huh?

[resleeves]

I don't think I've said that, have I?

[ he's not going to lose any sleep if that broken remnants of the glass just stay there for the rest of their lives. it could be something the next group of people that get dumped on this bucket find.

they'd wonder what it was and who'd broken it. his legacy would be complete. ]

Leave it there unless it bothers you that much. But, the only thing I am determined to do is drink and sit here and ponder the existential crisis that I'm having by being here.

[ he's very good at multitasking. ]

I'm a very busy man.