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[evocation]

@kyna.medina | ■ ▲ ◌ ▼

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[evocation]

yeah
i mean
neither of us are really good at disagreeing
we can both be assholes
but mostly

[withmeinparadise]

yeah that's what i hear.





see if i can find something pretty.

[evocation]

i believe in you
i start in like two hours

[withmeinparadise]

maybe i'll see you then.

[ it's more like four hours later, mostly because he doesn't want to seem too eager, and then he gets a little distracted with other stuff, but eventually he shows up and takes a seat on one of the stools up at the bar. There's a flower in one of the buttonholes of the denim shirt hanging open over a worn tank top, something pale pink and heavy-headed with ruffly petals. If it has a name, he has no idea what it is. ]

[evocation]

[Kyna doesn't really expect him to show up right on time, but she watches the door all night anyway. Apparently she doesn't have the same concern about seeming too eager. The second she sees him, she heads over, grinning when she spots the flower.]

Ooh, you're trying to look fancy for me, huh?

[withmeinparadise]

What? No.

[ He pulls the flower from its buttonhole and sets it on the bar between them. ]

Had to find something pretty on short notice, remember?

[evocation]

[She wasn't lying—she really didn't need anything complicated, and judging from the way her smile softens, he nailed it. It's sweet in a heart fluttery way, and she tucks it into her hair above her ear.

Huh. Maybe he could be romantic if he tried.]

Short notice? It's been like four hours.

[withmeinparadise]

You got here two hours ago, don't be dramatic.

[ Obviously the two hours that happened before that point don't count. It's fine. The real story here, anyway, is the way she looks with a whatever-that-is at the side of her face, but he's content to say nothing about it. ]

So. What's on the menu tonight?

[ Read: Does he get to pick his drink, or is it dealer's choice? ]

[evocation]

Whatever you want.

[Dealer's choice, clearly.]

[withmeinparadise]

Hmmm. Gimme a rum and coke.

[evocation]

That's it?

[Boring, Sam!]

[withmeinparadise]

You wanna make something else, make me something else. I ain't picky.

[evocation]

No, no. I'll give you your rum and coke. I can experiment on you later.

[Ominous, maybe, if he knows anything about how Ren and Kyna spend their slow shifts. She whips it up, though, and sets it in front of him.]

[withmeinparadise]

Sounds good.

[ Sounds more promising than ominous to him, honestly--but he's got an iron stomach. For now, he takes a sip of his drink and the corner of his mouth curls up, teasing. ]

Not bad. They teach you this one?

[evocation]

Yep. I needed after hours tutoring. Are you proud of me?

[withmeinparadise]

Very. [ And after another sip-- ] Bet Nathan showed you, he knows a good rum'n coke.

[evocation]

Pfft.

[She reaches across the bar to flick the side of his head.]

You know I train a lot of the baby bartenders here, right?

[withmeinparadise]

[ Which doesn't do anything to teach him a lesson. It might just encourage him. ]

Well, someone's gotta. But someone must've trained you.

[evocation]

[What a jerk. She rolls her eyes good-naturedly.]

I used to bartend at home, you dork.

[withmeinparadise]

Yeah?

[ It's the invitation to tell a story more than an expression of disbelief. ]

[evocation]

Yeah, before I was actually making money with the magic stuff. There were so many weirdos.

[But none of it is especially interesting, so—]

I've been doing some reading about those pirates you love so much.

[withmeinparadise]

[ And evidently it's not nearly as interesting to him as pirates, either, because something in his bearing sharpens. ]

Have you now?

[evocation]

[Kyna laughs, charmed by the reaction. What a nerd.]

Uh-huh. I'm practically an expert now.

[No she's not.]

[withmeinparadise]

All right, expert, tell me about pirates.

[ You know, unless you've got actual paying customers. ]

[evocation]

[She shoots him a shit-eating grin.]

They all had scurvy.