man I don't even know

[canceller]

[It's been less than 24 hours since he landed back here, and already Jeremiah's finding himself breathing easier. It's drier here, the winter colder, and he welcomes it, in spite of years in Area 11. The mainland will always be his home, after all.

Pendragon sometimes feels less so, and other times more. It still feels like fate brought him here, it just depends on how surreal that particular moment feels to him. Right now, all he can do is keep strolling about the grounds, gaze sweeping the gardens, the sprawling build of the place, the mountains in the distance.

It's good to be back.]

Comments

[explores]

Hmmm... I suppose I trust your judgment. After all, I got it on the first try, you could hardly show your face again if you don't do as well.

[canceller]

Well as you say, I'm not a difficult read. But for you...

[He thinks it over, swirling his wine before taking a sip and setting it down on the table, heading off towards the door and munching on that cracker finally.]

I'll be back in a moment.

[explores]

Okay.

[ Smiling as innocently as can be and taking a seat on the side of his bed to wait. And also eat a lot of cheese and crackers. ]

[canceller]

[He returns shortly afterwards, having raided his own bar, small as it might be; he's not one for complicated mixing, but he's got a few basic ingredients. And while it's not much, thankfully, he returns with a bottle of clear liquid and a pair of shotglasses. Just in case.]

I think this might do the trick.

[Which is when he sets it down, label facing Gino so he can see. Yeah, that's triple sec alright.]

[explores]

[ He leans forward to take a peek at the label and grins when he realizes what it is, reaching out to take the bottle. When he looks up it's with no shortage of I know what you're doing, and he twists the cap off without any further ado. ]

I guess you know me better than I thought, after all.

[canceller]

Ah ah- [He snatches the bottle out of his hand deftly, pouring him a modestly-sized shot and handing that to him instead.] I also know to keep an eye on you. I've never seen you shitfaced before, and I don't intend to have tonight to be a first in that regard.

[explores]

[ He serves up a heaping helping of Pouting, but doesn't voice protests. Just takes the shot and hovers over it for a moment. ]

Why not, you worried I might do something crazy and unexpected?

[ Get it, because he always does something crazy and unexpected. Also, slurping that shot down as noisily as possible, specifically to be a little shit. ]

[canceller]

[Jeremiah just reaches back for his wine glass, shaking his head.] I already know that part is inevitable. I'm just ensuring it doesn't involve you also vomiting all over your floor.

[explores]

If you really want to babysit me that badly!

[ Holding his shot glass out again. ]

Can I get a refill, Pops?

[canceller]

Give that one a minute first.

[Sorry kiddo, he's taking the shotglass and setting it on the table before taking a sip of wine and raising a brow at him. wut u gon do bout it]

[explores]

[ Pull a rude face at him and fold his arms over his knees, is what. ]

Geez, maybe "Pops" was too casual. I should have gone with Dad. Maybe even Grandpa.

[canceller]

Do you want to end your night throwing up or not?

[Casually stands all up in his space just so he can glare down his nose at Gino. Which feels good to do, for fucking once.]

[explores]

[ Pointedly ignores him. Only to deflect any overtures of dominance away entirely, looking somewhere else in the room. ]

[canceller]

[Yeah he's not looking away. Even his robo eye is locked on your face, buddy.

Sip.]

[explores]

[ Folds his arms!!!!! But eventually he gets around to looking back at him, staring unblinking for... well, by normal people standards, a pretty decently long time. Can't beat the robo eye though, and he blinks hard when it finally happens. ]

See anything interesting?

[canceller]

Not yet.

[Sip. Jeez here he was criticizing Gino and he's almost done with his glass. Whoops, refill time.]

[explores]

[ WOW RUDE!!! Looking pointedly away again. ]

I see.

[canceller]

You could always change that.

[Is he smirking to himself while he's got his back turned? Maybe.]

[explores]

How do you propose I make my face more interesting to you?

[ He is sulking like a little girl, and it is all completely fake. And he's okay with it being obvious. He simply doesn't do things he doesn't intend to have people notice. ]

[canceller]

I didn't say it just had to be your face, did I?

[Glances over his shoulder. Hey.]

[explores]

[ He looks up and around at that, perked up like someone rang the dinner bell. Sadly, he's too taken off guard to respond flawlessly, but he recovers fast, narrowing his eyes and dredging up a smirk. ]

I think you better let me have another drink if you expect to have any access to anything more interesting than just my face.

[canceller]

So I have to get you drunk first? That's a bit questionable isn't it?

[Jeremiah just stands there, certainly not pulling away from the table just yet.]

[explores]

Take it or leave it.

[ Is what he says, but what he means is he fully intends on making him work for it. ]

[canceller]

You assume a lot about the levels to which I'd sink, Gino. What of my moral code?

[Said nothing if not haughtily, taking another generous sip of wine. Yeah, he's not even trying to savor it at this point.]

[explores]

Orange, you left your moral code all over my bedsheets when I was nineteen. Don't kid me with your false pretenses.

[ He drapes one leg over the other, hitched up expressly so he can rest his elbow on his knee and put his chin in his hand. Because that's the pose he needs to be striking right now and he has nowhere else to lean to make it happen. ]