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[braveoff]

@drake.holloway | ■ ▲ ◌ ▼

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[braveoff]

[ Drake smirks, making a show of looking Will up and down, like he's studying his body language and expression. But it's not hard to figure out, really, even for someone who didn't read people to survive. ]

You're... thinking about giving me more luck? But it's still your turn, you're about to win.

[slavophile]

How about we share.

( Pulling him close, around around Drake's neck, William kisses him again, activating the bond that hopefully doesn't shine brightly between them, this kiss a little longer. He transmits having a good time, the ending of his hangover, and a snippet of something he can't get his mind off of. This strip poker idea. He breaks the kiss, keeping him close as their chests return to normal, hand still on fabric. )

Win or lose, I'm happy to be here, Drake.

[braveoff]

[ He should really protest, on some level -- someone might see, for one thing, and for another he's not sure he's ready for what William obviously is. But the emotions he gets through the bond are as satisfying as the kiss. There's some turmoil in his emotions, uncertainty but growing interest, and an echo in that he's having a good time too. He finds himself reaching up and wrapping an arm around William, hand settled between his shoulderblades until it breaks. He doesn't step back, not yet. It's good to be touched even without the bond. ]

Me too.

[ He sounds almost a little surprised by that, but it's not that he didn't already like William, that he didn't want to spend time with him. It's just how much fun he's having, how easy and uncomplicated this feels. ]

You can beat me at darts next if you want.

[slavophile]

You can shoot a gun. You can throw a dart. Probably.

( William's not the one who's going to break this closeness. He likes the warmth and the feeling of being held, too. It's foreign to him like this. Letting himself be this vulnerable. With Ian, his emotions weren't -- well, emotional. He'd been charmed. His mind had gotten him. His wit. But, with Drake. Everything gets him. He looks good. He is good. )

[braveoff]

I can throw a knife, too. That might actually be a detriment. You know, the spin...

[ Another moment, another smile, and Drake does take a breath and step back, his hand slipping away and instead gesturing to the pool table. Go ahead and win, William. ]

[slavophile]

( It just takes a second to knock the 8-ball in. He turns back, sets the cue down and drinks from his glass. )

You do not want to give a dart as much spin as a knife.

[braveoff]

I know, I've thrown them before but I was never much good at it. I think my bar's were weighted off.

[ He sets his cue down and goes back to finish off his beer as well. There's still more in the pitcher but instead of pouring himself more at the moment he glances around and finds the dartboard, tilts his head that way. ]

Show me.

[slavophile]

Sure.

( He leaves his glass behind, too, giving Drake a look before heading over to the board. It's -- less hardware than he's expecting. Electronically tipped arrows and a neural board against the wall. It's a different weight in his hands.

The bar's not busy enough to have to grab their glasses or the pitcher. As far as William's concerned, it's just Drake and him. He signs in, putting in credits. He describes good dart technique, lining up. Also the different dart games, 501, normal rules, etc. He's -- geeking out a bit. )

[braveoff]

[ It's kind of cute how into it William is, actually. ]

Wow, you're really into darts. I didn't even know about how the games worked, we just tried to hit the bullseye... so we're trying to get to 0?

[slavophile]

In this mode. In another, you try to hit -- well, that doesn't matter. But, right now. Yeah. You have to get to 0 exactly. I'd put stripping on the table, but we're in public and, I think we should save the stripping for when you teach me to beat you at poker. ( He's joking. He won't be as good as Drake is. Probably not anyway. ) Let's see what you got.

[braveoff]

How do you play strip darts? Now I need to know.

[ Even if they're not playing it now. Drake takes careful aim and throws the digital dart, and it definitely has a little more spin than it should. It hits low on the board angled downwards. ]

[slavophile]

( But, it wins him negative points. )

So. In another game, you have to hit the 16,17,18,19,and 20 three times. Say you miss them. Take off an article of clothing. Or, say you make two points in one round. You can make someone else...

We came up with it in Vegas. I didn't gamble but...

( He didn't travel. )

[braveoff]

Stripping isn't gambling.

[ Though he's curious, as he lines up to try again -- ]

Does your family have a gambling addiction history or something? You seem really against it.

[slavophile]

No, but gambling is why you go to Vegas.

And, no. I don't know. I mean, my dad was like, a millionaire playboy. He probably gambled for fun before everything. Being lost at seat and coming back to -- tale on crime. I lived with my mom before everything and she never gambled. I never found it fun. Sure, I could woo investors with a night at the casino, but I also had assistants for that, too. Especially when the casino turned into the strip club.

( Business dealings, right? Through this, he makes his three shots. They're lower numbers. He was caught off guard by his characterization. Is that how he sounded? He rarely gambled, especially with his heart. But, being a vigilante, that meant gambling weekly.

My grandparents weren't gamblers either. Since you asked about family. But, my sister fought for money - literally in one of those fight clubs. And I actually bet on it a lot before the simulation for easy money. Before my more formal, physical training.

[braveoff]

[ Drake listens, nodding, and watches William take his shots. ]

I'm not much of a gambler either, you just mentioned it twice already today that you don't so I was curious.

[ He tilts his head. ]

Physical training? I thought you were the tech guy, not the muscle. Not that you're not fit, but I didn't get the impression you sparred.

[slavophile]

Ilya - he's -- not around anymore. But, he started training me for a few weeks. I have a lot to live up to. I'm good at what I'm good at, but why not try for more.

( He has nothing on his sister or his father. But, in this? Here? It made sense to get training. )

We could spar.

[braveoff]

We could. I was head of training for the Hadriel Guard, actually -- turns out I'm a pretty good teacher. And I've learned a lot of tricks from the best.

[ He's looking at William instead of the dartboard now. ]

What were you guys working on?

[slavophile]

Hand to hand. Didn't get much past that. Anticipating my opponents actions. He said, my reading fighters was my biggest asset.

[braveoff]

It is. If you're good at telling what's coming at you, you can beat someone stronger and more skilled. Know your enemy and all that. Most people telegraph to some extent. Hell, most monsters do too.

[ He might already be planning a training regimen. ]

When are you free?

[slavophile]

( He faces him, handing Drake the darts. )

With the power outages? Another week. Regularly, on the weekends and at night when not betting on the fights. I'm trying not to say when do you want me to be free? Because, the answer is really that.

[braveoff]

I'm off work for at least a week too. How's tomorrow sound, if you're not sick of me yet? Then if it works out I'm usually on the job most evenings, but weekend mornings or afternoons are free. We can play it by ear.

[ He throws one of the darts -- he's getting better already, figuring out how much follow through to put on it and how they arc. Very adaptable. ]

[slavophile]

( That's a great thing about darts. It's all in practice and trial. Also error. )

Yeah, let's do tomorrow and then go from there. But, that doesn't count as a date.

[braveoff]

Not a date, got it.

[ He huffs a soft laugh, throwing another dart. ]

It feels really weird to be dating like a normal person again, after two years of a post-apocalyptic alien city.

[slavophile]

You could argue this is pre-apocalyptic if it helps.

( He crosses his arms, watching his technique. )

But, that's why we're all here, right? To prevent it? Maybe?

[braveoff]

I just mean going out wasn't an option.

[ He lacks finesse at this point but hey, he's hitting where he wants. William can correct his form if he wants to. ]

Is that what we're here for?