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[die-tician.livejournal.com]

There's a man in a sharp black suit sitting at the bar, people-watching. Every few minutes he pulls out a wafer-thin black mobile phone, prods at the buttons, and allows a narrow smirk to slide onto his face as he reads the response.

His Perrier had bubbles in it tonight. Business must be booming.

Comments

[shall-go-free.livejournal.com]

Pity he didn't drop a fork. It would be a sign company is coming.

Provided Xas counts as company.

The angel, perhaps drawn by the Perrier, approaches, steps slow and deliberate.

Walking is still not quite instinctive.

[die-tician.livejournal.com]

Sable slaps the phone closed decisively and sighs the satisfied sigh of a man for whom the world has just cast itself imploringly on the ground. He notices Xas only belatedly, and after a moment, gives him a professional nod.

[shall-go-free.livejournal.com]

Xas smiles slightly in return.

"Busy?"

This is accompanied with a nod toward the phone.

[die-tician.livejournal.com]

"Always," he replies smoothly, giving the angel an appraising look.

"But the line between business and pleasure is so difficult to draw, don't you find?"

[shall-go-free.livejournal.com]

Xas' smile is slow, with a hint of teeth. He licks his lips.

"I've rarely had the opportunity to look for one."

[die-tician.livejournal.com]

Sable smiles in return - though it doesn't reach his eyes - and nods.

"No real point, I find. It's not as though there's anyone keeping score."

[shall-go-free.livejournal.com]

"No one who doesn't know it ahead of time."

The smile twists, faintly.

"Still, I'm hardly one of those."

[buriedmybrother.livejournal.com]

Antigone slips inside, cheeks flushed from the night chill-- and from the football she'd played with Sergeant Wells.

She feels pleasantly smug about that. Finally, a chance to do what the boys always did!

Her smile fades slightly as she catches sight of a man at the bar.

[die-tician.livejournal.com]

His drifting gaze shifts sharply as she enters, pinpointing the girl at the door. Maybe it's something about avoidance that always catches his attention, but the ones who want least to find him always seem to do so.

"Good evening to you, my dear," he calls. This is probably as close to a grin as he's likely to get.

[buriedmybrother.livejournal.com]

Antigone wouldn't say least. Not least.

But then, she's always been contrary.

Who is he?

She remembers the slim bones, the talk of Eden, and something ... a name like Raven's. Or had it been?

At any rate, she doesn't answer him. But she does want coffee, and she isn't going to avoid the bar just because he's there.

Antigone walks over, back a little straighter than usual, and orders.

She glances at him out of the corner of her eye now and then.

[die-tician.livejournal.com]

"Caffeine is a wonderful thing," he comments idly.

"Makes the heart race while the drink's acidic content plays havoc with the stomach lining. Exhilarating. I do recommend the espresso in particular."

[buriedmybrother.livejournal.com]

Her eyes narrow slightly.

"It's bitter," she says.

This, to her, is a fact in support of coffee rather than against it.

[die-tician.livejournal.com]

"It is," he agrees, nodding sagely.

"Most worthwhile things are, in the end. Don't you think so?"

[creator_raven]

Somewhere to the right there is a thump, and then a bright pinging sound.

Raven has, very carefully (no, really) flicked the rim of the glass of Perrier.

Jerk.

[die-tician.livejournal.com]

He directs a narrow look at the culprit.

"I assume you are going to explain yourself?"

[creator_raven]

Raven settles into a seat.

"It is no wise thing, that."

[die-tician.livejournal.com]

"It generally depends on who's asking, I believe."

He picks up his glass as Raven sits, taking a defiant sip.

[creator_raven]

Raven laughs.

"Also on what you would like to know, I think."

He blinks.

"And who is being asked."

[die-tician.livejournal.com]

"I don't really care to know anything except that you won't knock over my drink." He looks extremely put upon.

"And perhaps who it is I'm asking, if that is the more civilized approach."

[redhorserider.livejournal.com]

A warm hand moves across the back of his neck, playing with precisely trimmed hair at the back of his neck.

"Liking the gift?"

[die-tician.livejournal.com]

His concentration dissolves into a slow grin.

"Immensely. You wouldn't believe the things I can do with this. The stock markets alone. You should try one."

[redhorserider.livejournal.com]

She dismisses the idea with a wave. "Don't really need one."

Her hand is still at the back of his neck, a possessive gesture.

A glass of red wine appears and she picks it up with her free hand and sips it.

[die-tician.livejournal.com]

"Need was never the issue, of course," he says, smirking a little.

"Would you like a chair?"

[redhorserider.livejournal.com]

She slides into a chair next to him. "I'm good." She smiles.

"Busy day today?"

[die-tician.livejournal.com]

"Of course," he says, nodding.

"We've already exceeded our projections for the month, and I expect those numbers to double once swimsuit season hits. Which should be in about..." He checks his watch.

"Five days. We convinced a few stores to roll them out early."

Smug. So, so smug.