sirenspull_logs | I've got my roots and you've got ties

Entry tags:

I've got my roots and you've got ties

Who: Alan Humphries & Eric Slingby & You [That is to say this is OTA]
Where: One of the local restaurants
When: Nov. 11th - Evening, pre-sirens
Summary: Eric finally takes Alan out on a date or something like it but with these two nothing ever really goes quite as planned.
Warnings: Odds are this is going to end up a mess of crazy shenanigans and embarrassment - I'll add in warnings as they come.

One would think that when making a date both parties would arrive on time or as close to the agreed time as possible. Indeed one would think but if you were Alan Humphries you would be wrong and glaring at the chair across from you - the emptiness of it mocking and somehow strangely; insanely personally offensive. He didn't even want to bother with trying to figure out that whole mess and what it might mean.

Instead, he glanced at his watch and ticked off another couple of minutes of waiting. In the back of his mind he was wondering why Eric was late. Odds are Eric went to the wrong restaurant or he got distracted and sidetracked. Sometimes he was pretty sure if it wasn't for him the other wouldn't be on time for anything.

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[ Unbeknownst to Eric and Alan, two of their other coworkers are seated at the bar just across the room. Upon finding out Ronald Knox had returned to Port, William decided the two of them should meet up. Perhaps to help get Ronald reacquainted with his new home, or perhaps so William could escape the recent escapades of home life with Grell Sutcliff, if only for a few hours. ]

Thank you.

[ William addresses the bartender as he's served his drink. He's already working on his second whiskey sour, by this point. ]

[ Meanwhile, this kid's right beside him and swirling his brandy. He's staring into it, slumped over the bar and with one finger of his free hand tapping the bar under his chin. ]

So... fancy putting me up to speed with everything?

Honestly, I do not even know where to begin.

[ He takes a sip of his drink. Maybe if he takes enough of them he'll figure out where to begin and be able to release some tension. ]

I believe it's been near two years, now.

[ That still takes some getting used to, really. The last this lot saw him was two years ago when for him, it had been nothing short of a few weeks. But then time was weird here, or so he'd been told.

Downing that drink now before raising his glass to get the bartender's attention. ]

Mind hitting me up with something stronger this time?

[ And down his head goes again back on his arms. He seems to be staring at the bottles but really, he's listening. It makes it easier for him to focus on his boss' voice and just take everything in. ]

Bloody surreal, if you ask me. Two whole years. And a place like this...

[ William joins Ronald in his request, having put away the rest of his drink, as well. ]

You will probably find this odd, but I admit I prefer things here.

[ That one actually earns Will his full front-face attention and a small grin. ]

Does the fact we don't have to do the old job play a bit in that?

That is part of it, yes.

[ He heaves a heavy sigh of relief - one he's probably been holding since he passed his exam at the academy. ]

I actually have a decent amount of free time now, if you can imagine that.

[ There's a smile for that. One of his usual but one that carries with it a hint of relief. ]

Wager that for all it's worth... this place has actually done you a world of good, eh?

Glad to hear it, sir.

A decent amount, I suppose.

However, there are still some things I can't seem to rid myself of.

[ It's not said with his usual cold tone, though. Whether because of the liquor or something more is unclear. ]

[ Oh, he's picked up on that and decides that this warrants actually sitting up straight now. ]

What sort of things?

[ Catching himself, William quickly clears his throat and adjusts his glasses! ]

Grell Sutcliff, of course.

[ Yeeeeeep. ]

Yeah, I figured that'd be one of the things. Is he still being a pain in the arse or am I missing something there too?

[ William pushes his third empty glass back at the bartender. He's finally starting to feel that warm, hazy sensation come over him. So rather than a simple 'yes' and then change of topic, William suddenly feels the need to elaborate on the current events for Ronald. ]

He kidnapped a teenage newcomer a few days ago, claiming he was our adopted child.

[ And with that, he very nearly chokes on his drink. Downing it now before he can and bracing at the feel of the alcohol hitting his throat in a sudden rush. ]

Blimey, I knew he was desperate but I didn't know he could get that desperate. Does he still have the kid?

No, I let him leave. And now there is this bed shaped like a racecar in our bedroom and...

[ Sigh and swig! ]

Honestly. He could at least wait until after the wedding to start thinking about adopting children.

Well, yeah. That's pretty much co--

[ Another pause. Wait, he didn't quite catch that last bit. ]

Wedding? You mean...

We already have three cats and a pigeon. That is enough to take care of, as it is. Not to mention a photo studio to manage.

[ Yes, he's still rambling. ]

How-how am I going to pay for a wedding? A Grell wedding, mind you. He's not easily satisfied, if you were unaware...somehow. Which is highly, highly unlikely.

[ Has he had enough yet? Nah. Better glance over to Ronald's glass with a frown. ]

What did the bartender give you? I think I need one of those, instead.

Blissfully unaware, really. Of.. The engagement, I mean.

[ Ever had the moment where you can just pinpoint someone's heart breaking? It shows for just the shortest millisecond, slipping past the small half smile he offers his boss before reaching over to give his boss' hand a light squeeze. ]

Just a double bourbon. Nothing too fancy.

[ And then he lets go and is silent a moment, as of considering something. ]

Could help if you'd like. It prolly wot be much but I'd wager if the two of us put what we have together, it'd help with the payment...

[ William frowns as Ronald's hand makes contact with his own. This whole opening up thing - this showing of emotions business - even after two years it was still a bit difficult for him. But he was trying. There was really no reason to hold back here, anyway. His job was no longer consuming his life.

So as Ronald's hand moves away, William's moves to meet it once more. It settles atop the other, patting briefly. ]

You are a good friend, Knox. I am glad you returned.

[ It's not the biggest of confessions, but for William, it could be considered as such. And Ronald could be damned sure it was the truth. Because, liquor or not, William never said anything he didn't mean. ]

[ And that right there perks him up quite well. It never occurred to him that William would have such notions. Hell, the fact his boss considered him a friend -- did he even have friends?

There's a small smile as he turns to grasp his hand again. ]

Good thing I came along when I did, eh? It'll be alright, sir, you'll see. Don't... don't worry about the small details and all. You'll think yourself into a corner and where'll we all be, eh?

Yes, I suppose one of us has to keep a straight mind.

[ Though, right now his is a little blurred from the alcohol, but that's fine. He's gotten a bit off his mind for the moment, regarding Grell and the wedding, so he doesn't pay much mind to the continued physical contact between his hand and Ronald's. Instead he just nurses his new glass of bourbon and allows Ronald to cling. ]

[ He'll clutch tight one last time, one last moment he figures and that's it. He's off Will cold turkey. There are other things to worry about right now.

So he pulls away abruptly and suddenly downs that bourbon in his hand, hissing from the sudden heat. ]

Always been you, sir. Mister Humphries has the thorns to deal with, Mister Slingby's almost as bad as I am and let's not get started on Mister Sutcliffe, eh?

[ A laugh as he stares into his now empty glass. Maybe it's the alcohol making him emotional. ]

S'why you're the boss.

Perhaps I am not as sane as I thought, then. Willingly putting up with you lot. Especially that thing.

[ And a laugh for that, shaking his head. ]

Thing, sir?

Though... You'd prolly be pretty barmy to put up with us every day. Don't rightly know how you manage it but you do.

I was referring to Grell.

[ Oh wait, he usually uses full names, right? Better correct himself with an adjustment of his glasses. ]

...Sutcliff. Grell Sutcliff.

[ He misses his glasses by a bit, instead mussing his hair slightly. ]

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Yes hi guess who got inhaled by work? /sob

You've made my inner William proud!

I'm being a productive member of society. ;;; And I'm never late.

/highfives

Yay interchangeable accounts.

Always a handy thing