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[braveoff]

@drake.holloway | ■ ▲ ◌ ▼

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[braveoff]

And it was still that cold? Geez.

[slavophile]

I tried stepping outside. For the air.

( That was cold. )

I read up on what the scientists had been working on, in between cataloguing samples. ( Instead of. ) They were suppressed, for years, from publishing any of their findings. Evolved, bizarre creatures. A lot about this time, it really is the dissemination of information. It's carefully curated. Which is not any different from mine. Or, yours?

[braveoff]

[ Drake considers that... it's probably true but he was just an undercover cop, not some science bigshot. Then again... zombies. ]

Actually a lot like mine. Every world has its secrets, I guess. What kind of bizarre creatures?

[slavophile]

( William spends the walk explaining their different findings, including animals that were newly discovered. And that information being suppressed. Protected? Or, hidden? They reach the small hole in the wall bar that's still standing with the neural 'OPEN' sign playing.

William even holds the door open again )

This is Fratelli's. And they have nachos on the menu.

[braveoff]

Excellent. You're playing up the gentleman thing today, huh?

[ Drake's smiling, though, as he walks in. He loves hole in the wall places. ]

So are you guys going to go public with everything you found out there?

[slavophile]

I am always a gentleman.

( But. Yes. )

Stay tuned.

( Depending on what the gods above decree.

As for the here and now, it's part dive bar, part Italian pizza place with bar staples and some family favorites. He's up at the bar, then, turning to Drake. )

What do you want to drink?

[braveoff]

[ Stay tuned, huh? Drake quirks an eyebrow, then is up at the bar as well waiting for the bartender to wander over. ]

Beer's good -- especially with nachos.

[ He is a man of simple tastes. ]

You going with vodka again?

[slavophile]

No, I'll have a beer. I'm looking at today as a marathon, not a sprint. I want to be on your level.

( And in his personal space, as indicated as he leans in, shoulder close to Drake's but, he turns back. He orders them a round, starts an neural tab and turns back. )

Forgoing the shrimp nachos... regular, then?

( Another thing he couldn't get used to, the scarcity of some meats. )

[braveoff]

The day is young.

[ Drake doesn't seem to mind the proximity -- he's still getting used to it again but it's kind of nice that someone wants to be that close. He nods at the lack of protein. ]

Regular's good. Do you miss actual meat as much as I do? We were pretty much vegans back where I was last, sometimes I just dream about steak.

[slavophile]

It is newly born.

I miss meat so much. ( He laughs through the words, pouring each of them a glass and taking the pitcher in another hand. Since. The day is young. )

Here. Shall we?

[braveoff]

Sure.

[ There's only one other table taken in the place, so Drake nods towards one of the spots closest to the pool table. Just to put things down as they play. ]

So on a scale of 1-10, how bad are you going to kick my ass?

[slavophile]

( He follows, setting down his glass and the pitcher. )

Pool is angles and geometry. ( A 10? ) But, I could choke. I haven't played in a long time. You have that on your side.

[braveoff]

Soooo there's some hope for me yet. Don't go easy on me.

[ Drake winks, taking a sip of his beer and setting it down as well, moving to rack them up. ]

I'll break?

[slavophile]

And I will watch you break. Subtly.

( His grin is hidden by his sip, but it's still clearly apparent. This is already helping his hangover. )

[braveoff]

I've gotta be honest, you're not the most subtle guy I've ever met.

[ But if he's bending over a little further than is necessary, he'll deny it. ]

[slavophile]

Usually, more smooth...

( Leaning against the wall, he watches. He said he'd watch. He's not going to heckle though. He's only thinking, 'Don't miss, don't miss, don't miss.' )

[braveoff]

Oh, you're still smooth. I don't think I could get away with half of what you do. It's just not subtle.

[ He doesn't miss! Drake's actually decent at pool, but it's not his best game -- that'd be poker. ]

[slavophile]

What do I do?

( Off the wall, he moves over to find a cue he likes, rounding the table. And the brackets will now describe the game generally so as to not lose track of balls and such. Suffice it to say, he leans in and makes one ball. But, it's an easy one, and he's stripes. He misses the second attempt. )

[braveoff]

Well if I said I was going to watch someone break, I'd probably sound creepy.

[ He moves in for his turn, also aiming for an easy one. And it's a good thing one of us knows something about pool. He gets it, circles the table to find another, and misses that more difficult shot. A bunch of the balls scatter. ]

[slavophile]

I don't think you sound creepy.

( But, he is biased.

One of us knows a lot about pool if they wanted to get technical, but it's more about the dialogue and the chemistry. The knowing glances William gives, the smiles he can't hide and the surprisingly good elevator music they have on over the system. No words, but, very catchy. During their game, their nachos arrive and William turns to ask if Drake wants a second pitcher. )

[braveoff]

I didn't say it the same way.

[ Dating mostly women has made him very aware of how he sounds and his flirting is genuinely subtle and polite.

William is definitely winning the game but Drake doesn't seem to mind. Good sport means good loser, too. He considers how much is left in the pitcher and just how many nachos there are. ]

I think we'd better. Gotta have both, right? I'll go grab us a refill.

[slavophile]

I have a tab open.

( It's Drake's decision to use it. He's not going to force him. And, he finishes off the pitcher into their remaining glasses, setting it down then it's empty.

He watches Drake again, finding it easy. He's hot. William is this side of shameless today. )

[braveoff]

[ Drake nods at that, grabbing the empty pitcher and heading back to the bar -- he switches tabs because even if William makes more money he wants to split it as much as he can. Especially if this is going to be a whole day.

He can feel William's eyes on him and it's... nice. To be watched with interest. He has no idea where this is going to go and has to fess up about a few things eventually, but right now? He's genuinely having a good time. And comes back with the refill and a smile. ]

So I'm surprised you didn't ask about the freezer thing.

[slavophile]

( William might make more, but not by much. He has a cushion of fight bet winnings. We'll see who prevails in this tab war.

He hands Drake the last of the beer from the first pitcher. )

I was going to do. I can now. What's with the freezer thing?

[braveoff]

[ The game of pool is officially paused for snacking -- Drake takes his glass with a little nod of thanks and wonders how casually he can pull off saying this. ]

It's the safest way to put a zombie into suspended animation.

[ La la la... ]