Pre-Game Catchall | the grass grows greener on the other side

[graftage]

Who: John Steinbeck + people who are unfortunate enough to talk to him
Where: everywhere and anywhere
When: time is a construct (various)
Summary: pre-game CR catchall time
Restrictions/Warnings: steinbeck is his own warning (will update if needed)

[This log is for pre-game CR closed prompts catchall! If you're interested in getting CR with Steinbeck, just PM or hit me up in a PP over at vampirize and I'll write out a prompt for you!]

Comments

[graftage]

Ah, you had to complain? You had to beg? Poor little Rhys! Had to grovel for two seconds to get where he wanted to be!

[Ugh. He feels the distaste running up in his throat, like the remnants of a bad meal. Royals aren't the working type, huh? He'd like to see them try to work a day on Westerley, see if they could survive.]

Don't make me laugh. [A pause - he then spits on Rhys' shoe, just because he can.] You haven't worked hard a day in your life. You would take one step outside the Company and you'd be eaten alive.

[rhygret]

Wh-- [ he cannot believe Steinbeck just did that. Like Rhys openly stares at him in affront for a good second or two before he blusters, so insulted holy cow. ]

Are you serious right now?! You're--ugh! I should have you throw out! Screw you and screw your resistance! [ YOU CAN'T DO THAT TO HIM HE'S RICH ] This is why no one likes you! You're disgusting! I just--uuugh, I just had these waxed.

[graftage]

You can't do anything to me, Rhys. You know that.

[He laughs, eyes narrowing in almost mischievous amusement. He'd spit on Rhys' shoes any day to get a reaction like that.]

Anyways, you're the one who made the bad decisions, Rhys. You have to live with them. [A pause as he reaches up to rub his head, irritated.] By the Mother Tree, just hearing you speak is enough to give me a headache, you know?

[rhygret]

[ What he wouldn't give to take out a level 5 warrant on Steinbeck at this moment. ]

Well good, because you deserve way worse! None of this is my fault--I'm a victim here! [ Especially his shoes, the biggest victim of them all. RIP skag leather boots. ] I should be at work right now, not...consorting with the worst monk in the Quad. You people are walking disease vectors. [ Because it was an Uncle who infected Crowley, Rhys just assumes they're all...carrying something. Some weird blood-sucking virus. ]

[graftage]

Walking disease vectors? [He scoffs.] Who told you that?

[That sounds like a load of hogwash. Steinbeck reaches up to scratch the back of his neck, already getting tired of hearing Rhys yap on and on about how much he hates him. He sighs.]

I need a drink. [He gives Rhys a pointed glance.] You're coming with me, work or no work. Besides, I bet you don't do that much work at all.

[rhygret]

A friend. [ he's not going into further detail than that, because unlike some people he can actually be a pretty decent friend when the need calls for it. He's at least good at not going around to blab secrets and the like. Crowley's mystery disease will stay safe.

The not-so-subtle "come with me" isn't lost on Rhys though, and he wrinkles his nose. ]

Excuse you but I happen to be good at my job! As...unimportant as it is. And I get paid for it which is more than you can boast I'm sure. [ he's pretty sure monks don't get salaries and pension plans ]

[graftage]

Tell your friend that they shouldn't go around spreading ridiculous rumors.

[Insult him all you want, sure, but insult the Scarbacks as a whole, and that's another thing entirely. Steinbeck's eyes narrow in an obviously peeved expression.]

I get paid for blessing rich people when they decide to do something as mundane as buying a pet. [He says, with a snort, as he turns to the exit - he hesitates, turning his head over his shoulder.]

Come on. [A pause.] Look, I'm willing to buy you a drink if it means it'll shut your stupid mouth. I'll kill two birds with one stone, here.

[rhygret]

It's true. [ Rhys insists on that grumpily, but that's about it. He knows far too well that Crowley's change for the...worse, he supposes? He was never fantastic company but now he's got the added bonus of being a huge pain in his ass whenever he asks for blood.

But then Steinbeck offers to buy him a drink and Rhys winds up giving him this incredulous look, unable to decide if he should feel insulted or what. Because a stiff drink actually is...exactly what he wants, after something like this. ]

Is that supposed to convince me? Really??

[graftage]

Sure it is. [He says, with the air of someone who doesn't believe him whatsoever.]

[He lets out a laugh, shrugging casually. He needs that drink, and he needs it now, and he has to keep an eye on this too. This is the best scenario, really.]

Hey, it's either you come and watch me drink, or you drink with me. No other options here. If I were you, I'd choose the latter.

[rhygret]

Is there an option that involves you leaving me alone for the rest of forever? [ That's Rhys's way of begrudgingly acquiescing, in case Steinbeck wondered. He really doesn't see a way out of this, but maybe watching the guy ruin his liver will make his evening a little less awful. Rhys could enjoy watching that. ]

Is wherever you want to go to at least close by?

[graftage]

Sadly for the both of us, no.

[He gestures for Rhys to follow him, barking out a laugh.]

Do you really think I could walk half the city for a drink? Hell no. Of course it's nearby. Probably not up to your rich standards, but it'll do the job.

[rhygret]

If there's puke on the floor, I'm leaving. [ Rhys is setting that hard rule right now because he's seen the "charm" of Westerlyn bars and he's found it to be lacking in so many hygienic ways it's disturbing. There's no way he'd be able to stomach something from anywhere that isn't at least trying to be clean. ]

[graftage]

Whatever floats your boat, Company Man. [Another laugh - Rhys is amusing, really, with just how ignorant he is about everything. He's too picky to be taken seriously.]

[He makes his way through the streets, finally coming to one of the bars - it's more on the quiet side, which is what Steinbeck likes. There's less of a chance for a bar fight or chaos to break out, and he enters with Rhys in tow. It's fairly clean, for Westerly bar standards.]

[Steinbeck makes a bee line to the bar counter, looking over at Rhys with a smirk.]

What's your poison?

[rhygret]

Because you have to ask you probably can't afford it. [ Rhys is going to be smug about that whether it's actually convincing or not (he sure believes it so that counts for something right?), choosing the least offensive-looking stool to seat himself upon as he lifts a brow.

The perfect Rich Asshole^TM look. ]

[graftage]

[Steinbeck stares at Rhys for a moment, before turning to the bartender, gesturing over to Rhys with a wide smile.]

Give him the cheapest beer you have.

[Serves you right, Rhys!!!]

[rhygret]

...........

I hate you. [ STEINBECK. Oh my god Rhys can't wait for him to get arrested or die of infectious disease or something, that would be great. Like super-swell, because right now Rhys is just leering at him in irritation. ]

Haha! Actually-- [ Rhys stresses this word with a pointed look at Steinbeck ] I'll take your finest Hokk. He's paying.

[graftage]

I'll cut your pinky finger off if I do.

[Says Steinbeck through gritted teeth, smiling so wide it's practically reaching his ears.]

Do rethink that, would you?

[rhygret]

What, you're going to assault a Kendry--in the middle of a public space, over a bar tab? Ohhhoho my god, please do, I'd love to have a reason to toss your butt in the mines forever.

[ No seriously he would love to do this. He also did just say "butt" instead of "ass." ]

[graftage]

Rhys, you flatter yourself! I wouldn't do it now, you silly goose. [He flaps his hand, as if to say "don't worry about it!".]

I mean, I'll take your pinky at some point. Though I also have half the mind to get into your office when you aren't there and make it seem like your nice computer, well, jumped off the table?

[He opens his eyes, smile almost painted on.]

I'm sure that will cover the bill quite nicely.

[rhygret]

Okay first off, I don't pay for my terminal and supplies. The Company does. So you breaking a terminal on a security feed would be prety dumb on your end. But again--go ahead because that'll only help me out!

[ ...The cutting off his finger later part though, that's. That is cause for concern y e p. ]

You guys are all about taking the pain of others, so you taking yourself out of my life completely would be a huge relief.

[graftage]

Rhys, you silly man. I don't need to even show up to break your stuff.

[He reaches over and pats Rhys on the cheek, mockingly, like he's telling a child how the world works.]

Ah, but I can't give away my secrets, that would ruin the surprise! Anyways, keep going with this. I'm sure it won't come back to bite you later.

[A pause.] I mean, just order something normal and I'll let everything slide. We'll just drink together as equals. No trouble has to be caused, here.

[Steinbeck laughs, cheerfully.]

Unless you like tempting fate a little.

[rhygret]

You're forgetting the part where we totally aren't equal at all, but fine. [ Rhys's eyes narrow a little at that, mostly because he finds it incredibly insulting to be put on the same level as a Resistance-serving monk of all things, but he....also really doesn't want to provoke the the guy who points knives at him as a hobby.

That seems less than smart. ]

Something normal, whatever's cleanest. [ This poor bartender ]

[graftage]

No, I'm not forgetting.

[And there we go. Steinbeck looks very pleased with himself, kindly thanking the bartender when they bring them their drinks before he turns back to Rhys.]

See? Knew you could do it! You've got some brain cells up there. [He leans his elbow on the counter.] I'm guessing drinking with people isn't something you're used to, huh? I suppose you don't have many friends.

[rhygret]

...Uhh, wow? Sounds like you're the one who's not going to have many friends if this is how you talk to people?? Because that's just--ugh, I have plenty of friends okay? I just don't mean them in run-down shacks on moons filled with psychopaths.

[ So yeah, Rhys has like...two friends. Four if you include Giovanni and Steph down the line after this. ]