video ; @thundaga

[astraphilia]

[ hello and welcome to Boredom Hours, sponsored by one too many midafternoon beers and a perpetual inability to not immediately make his ennui everyone else's problem. today's host is... Reno!

when the video starts, it's to a shockingly decently framed shot of Reno doing the hooligan squat on the front stoop of his apartment building. he's got a lit cigarette hanging from his mouth, and once he's sure that the video is rolling he takes a long drag of it before he speaks. ]

Sup. I'm Reno. Some of ya may know me from my colorful past as "guy who got yanked into pool by tentacle monster."

[ probably nobody knows him that way but it's fine. we are not concerned with strict veracity here. Reno blows a neat smoke ring and grins the kind of grin that means he knows he's being a pain in the ass. ]

I was thinkin', y'know, there's only so many of us. Probably ain't a bad idea to get to know each other, right? [ he gestures with his cigarette as he speaks as if to underscore his words. ] We need some conversation starters. Some icebreakers, y'know? Everybody's favorite highlight from their corporate bonding retreats.

So! [ he holds up a hand to count on.

one finger. ] Two truths and a lie. Post 'em, let other people guess. I'll leave mine too. Shoutout to the blond girlie who had that party a couple months back for this one.

[ two fingers. ] Hot or not. Or smash or pass, whatever you wanna call it. Post yourself and let people vote, if you're brave. Or post your friends if you want to fuck around. You can all see my face right now so count that as my submission.

[ three fingers. ] Creativity exercise, open prompt. You can go anywhere, be anybody, do anything you want. The world ain't ending and there's no war or whatever the hell going on. Who are you and what are you doing? [ brief smoke break, and then Reno stubs the butt out on the cement, exhaling as he says, ] Me, I wanna make mediocre coffee for minimum wage and not worry about shit except makin' rent.

[ and lastly, four fingers. ] "Reno, this is fuckin' stupid and I don't want to do it." Okay, nobody's got a gun to your head. We ain't even got guns here. Do what you want.

[ his four fingers curl in so he can offer a cheerful, if a bit manic, thumbs-up before he reaches out to turn off the video.

just before he touches the button, though, he pauses as if something just occurred to him— ] Oh, shit—also, drop map pins for your favorite restaurant in this place. I'm in the market for new eats, bonus points if it's spicy.

[ okay, now he's gone. ]

Comments

[limbical]

I doubt we'd have been spoiled, but I see your point.

So which one were you? The spoiled and irresponsible one?

[entwinedfate]

Hahaha! I suppose between the two of us I might've been, at least while we were younger. My sister was always the stronger of us, and it was only thanks to her love that I've lived as long as I have... I remember the only warmth in our childhood being the safety of her arms.

What's your dream? It's only fair to share yours if I've shared mine.

[limbical]

That's pretty wholesome. Your sister sounds like she was dependable. Must be hard to be away from her.

Hm. I've thought about this a little before. I should open my own practice, but frankly I think opening a bar would be more fun. Less stressful, and you're just making sure to make nice drinks for people.

[entwinedfate]

Oh, more than you'd know. I'd become used to it in some ways -- it wasn't as if I was clinging to her skirts -- but in others... [ A sigh. ] I never truly could understand her then. But in death she is with me wherever I go, kept safe within my heart.

[ ... Since she's no longer the breeze against his face, the clouds glancing down from above, the flowers that sway gently at his heels... The ache pangs at his heart before he continues. ]

A bar? If you do, tell me where it is; it's been a while since I enjoyed a drink with someone, since my profession doesn't lend itself well to leisure. It's nice to hear everyone's stories as well.

[limbical]

Ah, damn. I should've known it was like that. I understand a little bit what that's like; I'm sorry she's gone, though.

Heh, well. I don't think I could stop being a doctor here anytime soon, but I'll let you know. Deal?

[entwinedfate]

[ A little bit what that's like, though... He's lost someone too, then. He does look like a man who's been run through the wringer, and Argalia shakes his head with a small smile. ]

It's alright. I've learned that death frees the soul from its physical confines and allows it to wander free; my dear sister is in the wind at my back, the clouds watching over me, and the sun that dapples the world around us. If you understand it a little, then I hope that, even if you don't share the same view I do, it brings you a little comfort.

[ ... ]

If it wouldn't put your practice into too much danger, doctor, perhaps we could have a drink together?

[limbical]

If nothing else, I do think that's a nice way of thinking about it. That your loved one isn't completely gone. I wonder if I could manage that thought.

Not at all. I can make time. Got a preferred kind of drink?

[entwinedfate]

We can talk about it a little more over drinks. As for my preferred... I've always enjoyed a good sapphire martini, if you can do that. You could say I'm associated with the color.

[ Haha. ]

[limbical]

Hm. I'm not familiar, but if you have a general idea of how it's made, I'm sure I can fix something up.

And... this is the part where I realize I've gotten ahead of myself and I haven't even gotten your name. Call me Daan, unless you plan on just calling me "doctor" or "doc" like a bunch of others.

[entwinedfate]

Daan it is, then. [ No practice, no title. He'll give a small incline of his head as he gives his own: ] Argalia.

And I couldn't give you exact amounts, but there's a fair amount of gin involved, along with some vermouth and blue curacao for color. I'm certain you can concoct something close enough, and I don't mind taste-testing until it's just right.

[limbical]

Pleasure.

Hey, that works for me. We'll experiment until you tell me it's good enough. Let me know when is a good time, then.