( well, that's as good as a yes and she sends over a maps link to the bar she's picked out — a little dive of a joint whose alcohol quality is questionable but everything comes in absurdly oversized glasses.
it's shit, but in an almost charming way, and she's picked out a booth near the entrance, sat against the wall with a good view of everything while she sips at a pint of beer. )
[Well… Guess this is what he’s doing tonight. He takes a moment to make sure Ace is okay, but it just blinks at him and looks very bored and judgmental.
So it’s fine, he thinks, and he leaves.
It doesn’t take him long to get to the bar, though he does squint a bit at it. At least Kate’s hair stands out, and she’s right there, so he can make his way over to her table.]
( ... oh boy. she can't even be surprised about this. well, at least this might be entertaining. and it's easier to teach Kaede about drinking than think about all the things that asking the network about jobs threw up. )
...Right. ( time to get down to business, gesturing to the bartender for another two glasses of beer. it's as good a place to start as anything else, and definitely nicer than the cheap store brand vodka that was her first drink. ) We're getting drunk.
( she drains the last of her drink as the bartender pulls two more pints and leaves them at the side of the bar nearest their booth. ) Shit gets you out of your mind for a bit.
( honestly how do you even explain the concept of alcohol? you get fucked up, it feels good, you make a decision or three you'll probably cringe at in the morning. )
( eh, that's fair. beer makes a lot of people do that. she never did, but she's never been much of a person for sweet drinks. sugary cocktails have her pull that face instead.
but then Kaede asks that question and Kate stills, just for a second, brown eyes locked, unblinking, on him. she should have expected the question, all things considered, but actually hearing it, having to answer it...
( you can choose another drink if you want, Kaede! not that she knows to tell him this. but beer is fine, right? she certainly seems to be downing it pretty easily, at least.
and, at Kaede's question, Kate shrugs, her lips ticking upwards just a fraction. )
( well, he is naturally cute. pocket sized clone 😤 )
Aye. ( a therapist, huh. this place really does have everything. ) Noticing that.
( dark web quests are good money and training is a good time killer, but she's realising her days are feeling aimless mire and more often, and now even the quests are letting her down. )
What d'ya think?
( she nods her head towards the beer to try and get his opinion on it. and to shift the topic away from jobs for a second. )
But some people do? Otherwise I imagine they wouldn't make it.
[He's just gonna look at the menu, squinting at it a bit. There... Sure are a lot of things he doesn't recognize here! Which isn't a shock, but it's still awfully overwhelming.]
...I don't even know where to start. Um. I think things that taste sweet...?
( she nods, and the fact she takes a long drink of her own beer before reaching for the menu should be proof enough of where she stands on the matter. )
Mmm... ( she pushes the menu back to him, opened to the cocktails page. ) They're sweet.
( yeah, everything he does really reinforces that comment she made.
and with the order selected, the bartender gets to work. meanwhile, Kate has a question to answer. )
... Somethin' about the way it's made lowers your inhibitions and shit, I think. ( Marc would have a definite answer, and Kate knows enough to know that poison is not an incorrect term for it, but she'll... leave that one out for now. ) Bit like coffee wakes you up, I guess.
( Kaede... she has so much to teach you, but being able to do this is oddly freeing. all she has to talk about are facts, more or less. he doesn't ask questions about things which are particularly awkward.
it fills the silence in a pleasant way. distracts her in a different way to normal. )
Can be. Guess it's relaxing for people.
( it is for her, at least. but, really? )
... It's easier experienced.
Edited (ok i'll be happy with this eventually) 2021-07-24 23:20 (UTC)
he's gonna regret that. she can speak from experience there, but... well. experience really is the best way to understand how alcohol works, in Kate's opinion. how will you know your limits if you don't go over them at least once? )
No gag reflex, huh?
( there's probably a few people who would be interested in that fact. )
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
text; you know what this is
( she needs a distraction and someone who won't be nosy. )
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[He'll be nosy, but not in the way Kate wants to avoid! It's a win-win!]
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it's shit, but in an almost charming way, and she's picked out a booth near the entrance, sat against the wall with a good view of everything while she sips at a pint of beer. )
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So it’s fine, he thinks, and he leaves.
It doesn’t take him long to get to the bar, though he does squint a bit at it. At least Kate’s hair stands out, and she’s right there, so he can make his way over to her table.]
Hi?
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...actually, given that he doesn't know very basic concepts like dating, maybe she should ask; ) You been drinking before?
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[He has at least managed to deduce that “drinking” means something specific, here, like it’s some sort of… Special activity.]
I usually just drink water, and it’s not like it’s a social thing.
[He slides into the seat across from her, squinting at the menu.]
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...Right. ( time to get down to business, gesturing to the bartender for another two glasses of beer. it's as good a place to start as anything else, and definitely nicer than the cheap store brand vodka that was her first drink. ) We're getting drunk.
( she drains the last of her drink as the bartender pulls two more pints and leaves them at the side of the bar nearest their booth. ) Shit gets you out of your mind for a bit.
( honestly how do you even explain the concept of alcohol? you get fucked up, it feels good, you make a decision or three you'll probably cringe at in the morning. )
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[That’s a description, he thinks. He doesn’t see how it could be all that appealing, but he’ll just have to see for himself what it’s like.
He looks at the beer, hesitating for a moment before he takes it and takes a cautious sip.
His nose wrinkles in obvious distaste, but he’s not going to complain out loud quite yet.]
Why do you want to be out of your mind?
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but then Kaede asks that question and Kate stills, just for a second, brown eyes locked, unblinking, on him. she should have expected the question, all things considered, but actually hearing it, having to answer it...
hm. )
It's been a long day. It's a good way to unwind.
( which is true but not the truth, so to speak. )
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Kaede frowns at her, taking another sip and pulling another face.]
Okay…
[Another sip. Maybe if he keeps drinking it’ll get more bearable?]
Why am I being invited to unwind with?
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and, at Kaede's question, Kate shrugs, her lips ticking upwards just a fraction. )
Haven't seen you for a while. Wanted to catch up.
( a roundabout way of saying he's likeable. )
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He’ll finish this pint come hell or high water, even if he doesn’t do it as quickly as Kate will.]
Oh. Well, there’s not really much to say for catching up…
[He doesn’t do much. He just kind of exists.]
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and Kate's brow raises at that. nothing at all? )
What do you do during the day?
( does she have to be more specific here? )
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I... Work for a man named Maruki. He's a therapist? But I just do things like scheduling and stuff...
[And also look cute. That's also very important.]
It's more reliable than questing.
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Aye. ( a therapist, huh. this place really does have everything. ) Noticing that.
( dark web quests are good money and training is a good time killer, but she's realising her days are feeling aimless mire and more often, and now even the quests are letting her down. )
What d'ya think?
( she nods her head towards the beer to try and get his opinion on it. and to shift the topic away from jobs for a second. )
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Yeah... Plus, he's very nice and gives me snacks.
[Snacks are good!! He appreciates them. It's more than he's used to getting.
He blinks, looking down at the beer. He... Can't quite hide his grimace, and he thinks about what Maruki would tell him to do. Be honest, probably.]
I... Don't like it very much.
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that doesn't exactly surprise her, given his expression, but hey. may as well try it, right? )
Lots of people don't. ( shrug. hm... ) Plenty of other shit on the menu.
( she'll even tell him what they taste like. )
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[He's just gonna look at the menu, squinting at it a bit. There... Sure are a lot of things he doesn't recognize here! Which isn't a shock, but it's still awfully overwhelming.]
...I don't even know where to start. Um. I think things that taste sweet...?
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Mmm... ( she pushes the menu back to him, opened to the cocktails page. ) They're sweet.
( usually. )
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I guess I'll go for this one.
[He points at a random drink on the page, not even bothering to skim the description. It's not like he's going to know anything that's in it...]
But how does the mind thing work?
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and with the order selected, the bartender gets to work. meanwhile, Kate has a question to answer. )
... Somethin' about the way it's made lowers your inhibitions and shit, I think. ( Marc would have a definite answer, and Kate knows enough to know that poison is not an incorrect term for it, but she'll... leave that one out for now. ) Bit like coffee wakes you up, I guess.
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I see... I didn't know coffee could do that. I've just heard it's very bitter.
[He's never had it himself, obviously.
He thanks the bartender once his new drink arrives, pressing his lips together.]
And lowering your inhibitions is a good thing?
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it fills the silence in a pleasant way. distracts her in a different way to normal. )
Can be. Guess it's relaxing for people.
( it is for her, at least. but, really? )
... It's easier experienced.
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Relaxing...
[He says it like the concept is completely foreign to him.]
But if that's the case, then I suppose...
[He's just. Going to down that cocktail in one fell swoop.]
i'm gomen about her
welp.
he's gonna regret that. she can speak from experience there, but... well. experience really is the best way to understand how alcohol works, in Kate's opinion. how will you know your limits if you don't go over them at least once? )
No gag reflex, huh?
( there's probably a few people who would be interested in that fact. )