overjoyed_logs | Pre-Game Log | Imagine we are higher than the sparrows

[Lapis does enjoy her job at the bar - she loves a chance to sing, and the crowd always enjoys it as well. But sometimes the crowd gets a bit too... excitable, though. Luckily there's always bouncers around, one of which she's becoming more familiar with, with his long hair and permanent scowl. He always tended to be the more irritable of the bouncers she's seen too, and has seen more than a few patrons leave the bar with a broken nose thanks to him.

Usually Lapis isn't a fan of violence, but in these cases, those guys usually deserved it.

And she feels that the guy groping onto her leg certainly deserves a broken nose too - and she basically just stops mid-song to give the man the most flattest of looks. She doesn't appreciate being interrupted while she was singing, especially by some overly touchy drunk.]

Let go. [Of course he doesn't listen - so Lapis just quietly hopes a bouncer will intervene before she has to blackmail the guy to let go. She prefers not to do anything related to info broker-ing while on stage.]

[With a voice like hers, Lapis is damn good for business - something the bar owner has made sure Kanda was more than aware of.

As in the one job he has when she's here is to make sure the mouth-breathers wasting joy on questionable hokk aren't going to run her off.

Which is why, the moment he catches the cut in the song (one he's almost fond of, even) he's already striding across the floor, none-too-gently shoving people out of his way. He gets there in time to see the idiot not only ignore her command, but actually start to reach that hand further up--

Reach, but not attain.

Because before it can make any further contact, he's got that wrist in a vice-like grip, pulling back and twisting hard, just shy of breaking bones. The drunk howls in protest before turning to Kanda, full of impotent rage, but a swift punch to the idiot's temple is enough to abort the complaint in the making.

Nodding over one of the other bouncers, he passes off the unconscious man before turning to Lapis.]

...You alright?

[The moment that hand starts to reach further up, Lapis can feel her body start to tense - gold eyes narrowing at the drunk as she quietly wishes she wasn't so adverse to violence. One of the very few times she wishes something like that.

Luckily, she doesn't have to contemplate on publicly humiliating him, as his wrist is caught and Lapis feels a wave of relief rush through her when her eyes land on Kanda. Her expression unchanging as the drunks wrist is twisted and he howls in protest - instead she simply lets the tension ease from her body with a sigh of relief, once he goes limp and is passed away.

While personal space is never really a thing Lapis had, she still really doesn't appreciate being touched like that. But she just quietly nods, shifting to step down from the stage with another sigh - a quick break sounds good right about now.]

I'm fine, he didn't get very far. And thank you, I'm glad you got here so quick. [That's really the only hint of discomfort she'll show about that entire situation, as she's forced her expression back into something neutral once more.]

It's my job.

[Gruff, as always, but not actually too overly annoyed sounding and so he nods at the rest rather than say anything that will, honestly, prolong the conversation that is, quite obviously, uncomfortable for them both. Instead, he steps close, places a barely there hand at the middle of her back, and pointedly glares at the people standing nearest them before nudging her forward.

It's an impersonal ghost of a touch - just enough to keep her within the sphere if his protection in a crowded bar as they make their way towards the small break room used by employees.

(Little more than a couch, a couple of chairs, and a fridge)

Destination clear, the owner is already sending a waitress with their usual drinks to meet them.]

How much longer are you planning on entertaining those fuckers tonight?

[If anything, the gruffness gets her expression to soften slightly - never really put off by how gruff or curt he tended to be. It was reassuring in a way, since he just says what he thinks. And it's a relief that they don't really have to talk about what just happened to the others, simply following his nudge forward.

Her movements are calm and relaxed, as if she doesn't notice Kanda just glaring down anyone within the vicinity, before she flops down onto one of the chairs once they arrive. Shifting to rest her elbows on her knees, and her chin in her hands - humming quietly at his question.

The usual silence that drags between the lulls in her words lasts for a moment longer, simply letting herself adjust to the relative quietness of the break room. She can tell it's getting late, there's a familiar tiredness setting in now, but...]

I want to do at least one more song, since my last one was interrupted. [Which she's rather annoyed about. She's proud of her singing, and doesn't approve of anything or anybody ruining her performances.

There's a quiet sigh, eyes closing for a moment as she slumps a bit more.]

Hopefully that drunk doesn't bother coming back for a while.

[One more song isn't so bad - and it's one he ~~likes~~ can tolerate, which is why he offers a non-committal sound at that. Before he can say anything about her concern, however, the door opens and the waitress steps in long enough to set the drinks on the table, wink at Lapis, and then rush right back out.

Tipping customers aren't in the breakroom, after all.

Picking up hers, he taps the bottle lightly against her forearm as he reaches for his own half-glass of hokk, the faint hint of a confident smirk pulling at his lips.]

If he does, I'll just shoot him in the knee. Stun settings might hurt like a bitch, but he won't be able to follow.

Edited 2017-01-14 06:12 (UTC)

[Lapis still stays slumped in the seat as the waitress steps in, giving a little wave of her fingers in return to the wink before she's away again. Not mind how she rushes right back out, since she's not getting paid here.

Gold eyes then flick back over to Kanda as he taps the bottle against her arm, taking the bottle and bringing it to her lips. His words getting an amused huff, before she takes a sip of her drink - immediately feeling her face instinctively scrunch at the taste. Not the biggest fan of hokk, but the kick keeps her going.

Which is why she takes another sip, somehow ignoring how her body shudders in response.]

Maybe that will be enough to deter him completely too. If he can even remember anything the next day, I could smell the hokk on him from the stage.

[Fortunately for them both, Kanda's enhancements have enough juice in them to keep him from being overly affected by the hokk - so even with a few drinks, he's still more than capable of watching her back as she works the bar or once they leave to get her home.

His thoughts are derailed a bit at the way she reacts to the alcohol, even after all this time. Shaking his head, he holds up his glass to her.]

You still haven't figured out the trick to drinking this shit. [Lifting the glass, he knocks back a swift sip, lets it hit the back of his throat and quickly swallowing, before clarifying.]

Don't let it sit so long on your tongue - try to let it hit the back of your throat, then just swallow. You'll taste it less.

[Luckily Lapis has a pretty good tolerance as well - even if she still didn't like the taste.

Though she stops her disgruntled staring at the drink when Kanda holds up his glass, giving a quiet huff in response to his words. Okay, he's right, but she just didn't tend to drink that often!

She does at least watch and listen to him though, nodding quietly as she looks at the bottle in her hands once more. Quickly mimicking it as she takes a swig and lets it hit her throat before swallowing - luckily her not so great imitation only resulting in a cough or two.]

Ugh, it's still awful. [Despite her complaint, she takes another quick sip. And actually doesn't cough this time.]

Maybe one day the taste won't be so terrible.

[His lips twitch, slightly, at her attempts to follow his lead - the only hint of actual amusement that he lets through before he knocks the rest of his glass back in one quick shot.

It burns, warm and comfortable down his throat as he sets the glass back onto the table.]

Of course it is. They save the good stuff for Leithian wannabes.

[Shrugging then, he sits back in his chair, legs stretched out before him, one elbow on the table and head resting temple against his fist as he watches her.]

Doubt it, but you could always try the pumpkin ale instead. Too sweet for me, but it's not horrible.

[She saw that lip twitch, Kanda! Even if it was only something little, at least it was something - so she's rather proud of herself now.

But she hums softly in agreement, not really considering herself Leithian anymore since she up and left years ago. Plus she never drank there either, but it would make sense that they would have the good stuff.

She leans back in her chair as she keeps eyeing the bottle in her hands, tilting her head slightly at his suggestion.]

Pumpkin ale? I guess I'll give that a try, though I'm kinda wary of how it's sweet.

[Lapis has a sweet tooth, but sweet alcohol sounds a bit... much. At least she seems to be getting the hang of drinking this, as she takes another swift sip - no coughs this time.]

[He does have a sense of humor... almost. It's just rarely let loose. So for her to unintentionally tease out a part of it that's neither sardonic or snide is something of an accomplishment.

He's just not going to admit that. Instead, he'll just focus on the conversation.]

It's not horrible, I just don't like sweet things.

[~~He prefers them bitter, like his soul.~~

Shrugging at that, he glances at the door, then back to her.] Maybe next time then, or after you finish for the night. Were you planning on staying after the next song, or you heading home?

[Lapis will be forever proud of this accomplishment. Even if he doesn't say anything, because she'll be proud of herself either way.

And there's just another quiet, thoughtful hum as she scrutinizes her drink once more. Before taking another swig of it, the taste a bit less awful now.]

Hmm... Heading home. I think if I keep standing around in these heels any longer, my feet will cave in.

[Plus she's just... tired. But Lapis has never been one to admit when she's tired or just done for the day.]

Alright then.

[It honestly doesn't matter to him beyond the fact that, her going home earlier means less time he has to spend knocking heads across the bar's floor. Because, for him, seeing her home after entertaining is the signal that his own responsibilities are done, at least for the night.

Waving at her drink, he shrugs, the lingering traces of his amusement still hidden in the faint twist of his lips.]

Finish your drink, and then finish your song so we can get the hell out of here before I really do shoot somebody.

[Lapis figured he wouldn't care much either way - plus her finishing early means they can both get some reprieve from the drunks occupying the bar. Even Lapis gets rather tired of them after a while, despite not being bothered by much.

So she takes another sip of her drink at his motion, still feeling rather triumphant when she sees that amusement. Huffing softly at his words, her own lips curling up into a smile now.]

Maybe I want to see you shoot someone, though. [Her tone is rather light-hearted as she says that though - and she quickly finishes the rest of her drink, with only minimal grimacing before getting back onto her feet.]

But alright, let's get going. [Luckily the journey back to the stage involves nobody getting into either of their business, so there's no worries of anybody getting shot as Lapis hops back onto the stage.]

[And less of a worry as she sings, because this time he's just going to stand at the edge of the stage with his back to her, hands resting on the hilts of his firearms, and the perpetual scowl locked firmly in place.

At least, until she's done.

Until then, he's much like an immovable statue, set in stone, with only the slight turn of his head any indication that he's actually enjoying her last song. Once he's sure she's actually finished, however, he offers the crowd one last glare before turning to offer her a hand down - not out of any sense of being a gentleman.

More so the drunken oglers can't take the opportunity to separate them. Arching a brow at her, he cants his head towards the bar.]

Do you want to stay longer, or head out?

[Even if she doesn't show it, she is relieved that he stays by the stage - his presence is always more than enough to deter any touchy-feely drunks. And once she's done, she doesn't hesitate to take his hand, hoping down from the stage and sticking close to him.

Gold eyes then glance towards the bar, before offering a shake of her head. She's very much done for the night.]

I think now is a good time to head out.

[She gives the bartender a slight wave, signalling the end of her shift - not hesitating to lead the way out of the bar, weaving through the crowd before sighing quietly in relief once they're outside. After hours in the crowded bar, it's nice to be out in the fresh air again. Or as fresh as the air can get around here.]

[There's more than a little relief for him at her words - he's at his limit for dealing with idiots, and too much more would likely lead to an actual brawl or someone else leaving with broken bones.

It might actually be a bit of a relief, but he's never been one to revel in violence. For him, it's more of a necessary evil that comes with the jobs.

Still, his focus is getting her home, and so he shifts to step before her, not bothering to let go the hand in his as he cuts them a path to and out of the door. Outside isn't much better, but at least it's slightly less crowded.

Enough to finally let go her hand and fall into step beside her.]

When's your next shift? He didn't bother to say, but I've got a few warrants coming up that will take me off Westerley.

Pre-Game Log | Imagine we are higher than the sparrows

🌺 Kanda

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