Yeah... [ she makes a slight face. ] You don't want to meet her. She's one of those do-gooder types, but ten times worse.
[ don quixote is... a force of nature, all right. the more deluded, the better. really, trying to get annoying cheery types with grumpy ones is like mixing oil and water together. it doesn't always gel. ]
I think the new arrivals are fresh-faced enough, but there will come a time where they're gonna need full-body adjustments. You never know what we'll be facing up against in the [ near ] future. [ she pours herself another shot. ] Oh, someone did ask me about you a while back.
[ her voice is a lazy drawl as she gulps down another shot. surely izou would know who she's talking about. that bubbly force of nature's been up and about lately. ]
Don't worry, though. I made sure to put in a good word for you. Also some tips and tricks on how to deal with people like you.
( YES.... HE KNOWS... and he's going to close his eyes, 'cause. augh. why is she pestering other people when it comes to him?
was it really that serious? trying to befriend him and all...
his gaze flits the floor, the wall... and back, unsure of how to respond at first. there's a slight shake to his hand with the next sip of sake, and it goes down harder than the last. )
Th-The hell're "tips 'n tricks" on how to handle me? Makin' it sound like I'm your pet or somethin'. ... I don't get why she's tryin' so hard to get chummy with someone like me, anyhow. Folks like me...
Relax. [ no seriously, chill out. jeez, this guy sure gets worked up a lot. ] You're not the only one who's leery about her, you know. Her and Malkuth... I really can't stand people with infinitely high energy, like I said.
[ especially malkuth. mostly because she came from the same city, really. ]
Anyway, I just told her to give it some time for you to warm up to her. Patience is a virtue and all that. I don't like being forced into some kind of friendship either.
( sip... and maybe it's the alcohol creeping up on him, but saying he can't stand march in particular feels a bit too... too...
—no. whatever you're trying to admit to yourself, brain... just stop it. )
You're not the only one who's got people gossipin' in your ear. On you, while back, I had—
( ... wait.
roll that thought back.
because wasn't he the one, who... ? right. he did. izou's the one who brought up ishmael with a certain assassin, and so he swallows what he's about to say, an awkward silence stretching in the air between them. )
[ a couple of slow blinks followed his admission. unlike him, it takes a while for the alcohol to seep into her system, and she narrows her eyes at him. ]
You had what.
[ ... ]
What exactly did you hear from someone?
[ she can't just let this go now??? wtf izou give her the deets ]
[ she blinks at him, bewildered, like the thought has never crossed her mind till now. she puts down the shotglass, narrowing her eyes as if to try and find her reflection in it. ]
I guess... everyone here's strong enough, yeah.
[ she's sure of izou's abilities. she did in fact see him in action, despite her perception of reality being wonky at the time. but... ]
( a heavy curtain fell upon their casual little chat, huh.
izou locks onto those small tells, the hesitant grip of the glass in her hand and how he can almost imagine a slight tremble to it. he spent countless nights in life learning how to drink a hefty amount while chatting and observing others by candlelight, waiting for the right moment to strike. )
I... had a lotta friends die on me, too.
( and he died on them, cursing them to his last breath.
a glance at the floor of his own, and then, with a grizzled conviction that might also be partly thanks to how chatty he gets with some drink in his system: )
And I dunno about the rest of 'em, but I'm not gonna die on you.
( not again. anything but that, and in a way, this is pretty much him confirming their friendship out-loud. )
[ now that's a declaration she didn't think she'd hear from him, and she were a lightweight, she would've thought she misheard him over the alcohol. it's hard to believe at first, but...
she manages a wan smile at that, her voice soft. ]
...I know.
[ she's seen him fight. of course he's not going to kick it anytime soon. and maybe ishmael just needs a wake-up call that yes, everyone else can carry their own weight here now. ]
The thought is appreciated, though. Thanks. [ she really needed to hear that. and she imagines that it's not easy to admit on izou's part either. he too is starting to come around. ] Do you... want me to pour you another one? Is that how it works around here?
[ she's slowly learning japanese customs, please bear with her. ]
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no subject
From your world? With how rough you make it sound, she's gotta be some sort of hard-ass.
( as he recalls the sort of stuff ishmael's told him, he tilts his head.
none of the fresh recruits seem to stand-out in his mind in a certain way. )
Hmm... nah. None of 'em have had that full-body whatchamacallit. They looked all-natural.
no subject
[ don quixote is... a force of nature, all right. the more deluded, the better. really, trying to get annoying cheery types with grumpy ones is like mixing oil and water together. it doesn't always gel. ]
I think the new arrivals are fresh-faced enough, but there will come a time where they're gonna need full-body adjustments. You never know what we'll be facing up against in the [ near ] future. [ she pours herself another shot. ] Oh, someone did ask me about you a while back.
no subject
what if it's...
but it couldn't be him, or even him, and izou does his best to keep his voice steady even as it's becoming thick with alcohol: )
Who... Who's tryin' to get something about me outta you?
no subject
[ her voice is a lazy drawl as she gulps down another shot. surely izou would know who she's talking about. that bubbly force of nature's been up and about lately. ]
Don't worry, though. I made sure to put in a good word for you. Also some tips and tricks on how to deal with people like you.
[ how reassuring........ ]
no subject
was it really that serious? trying to befriend him and all...
his gaze flits the floor, the wall... and back, unsure of how to respond at first. there's a slight shake to his hand with the next sip of sake, and it goes down harder than the last. )
Th-The hell're "tips 'n tricks" on how to handle me? Makin' it sound like I'm your pet or somethin'. ... I don't get why she's tryin' so hard to get chummy with someone like me, anyhow. Folks like me...
no subject
[ especially malkuth. mostly because she came from the same city, really. ]
Anyway, I just told her to give it some time for you to warm up to her. Patience is a virtue and all that. I don't like being forced into some kind of friendship either.
no subject
—no. whatever you're trying to admit to yourself, brain... just stop it. )
You're not the only one who's got people gossipin' in your ear. On you, while back, I had—
( ... wait.
roll that thought back.
because wasn't he the one, who... ? right. he did. izou's the one who brought up ishmael with a certain assassin, and so he swallows what he's about to say, an awkward silence stretching in the air between them. )
... N-Nevermind.
no subject
You had what.
[ ... ]
What exactly did you hear from someone?
[ she can't just let this go now??? wtf izou give her the deets ]
no subject
he levels his gaze with her before it flits away. )
Just, that you were... that you act like you don't want it when you do.
no subject
[ because they're still talking about march, right? right. ]
It's not that I don't want it, it's just...
[ ishmael sighs, pours herself another shot. ]
I don't want to invest too many feelings on someone who'll just disappear anyway. I'm tired of that.
no subject
( he'll take it. dodge the reality of where that quote came from. for now.
what she says next, though... he doesn't expect, and it's only after downing this next glass in one go that he says: )
Disappear... you mean, die? What, you don't have confidence in the folks you befriended?
no subject
I guess... everyone here's strong enough, yeah.
[ she's sure of izou's abilities. she did in fact see him in action, despite her perception of reality being wonky at the time. but... ]
I'm just not used to it, is all.
no subject
izou locks onto those small tells, the hesitant grip of the glass in her hand and how he can almost imagine a slight tremble to it. he spent countless nights in life learning how to drink a hefty amount while chatting and observing others by candlelight, waiting for the right moment to strike. )
I... had a lotta friends die on me, too.
( and he died on them, cursing them to his last breath.
a glance at the floor of his own, and then, with a grizzled conviction that might also be partly thanks to how chatty he gets with some drink in his system: )
And I dunno about the rest of 'em, but I'm not gonna die on you.
( not again. anything but that, and in a way, this is pretty much him confirming their friendship out-loud. )
no subject
she manages a wan smile at that, her voice soft. ]
...I know.
[ she's seen him fight. of course he's not going to kick it anytime soon. and maybe ishmael just needs a wake-up call that yes, everyone else can carry their own weight here now. ]
The thought is appreciated, though. Thanks. [ she really needed to hear that. and she imagines that it's not easy to admit on izou's part either. he too is starting to come around. ] Do you... want me to pour you another one? Is that how it works around here?
[ she's slowly learning japanese customs, please bear with her. ]