Bartending

[watch-wait.livejournal.com]

Bartleby has a headache. He spent a restless night - between feeing ill and the awkwardness of things between him and Charlie, he couldn't sleep comfortably. He thinks maybe he should have told Charlie to go back to his room, given them both a bit of breathing-room... but at the same time, he's glad he didn't. It's nice to share a bed with someone, even if that someone lies a little too stiffly within your arms.

And then this morning... he spent this morning watching Cow. He doesn't believe everything the strange, armour-plated woman told him, but... there's something off about Cow. When he woke up this morning she was sitting in the middle of the room, staring at him, her eyes mean little slits. It made him shiver, and he remembered his promise. So he spent the morning dangling a bit of string in front of her, and watching carefully for evil-monster-like behaviour. He saw nothing that could be pinpointed, but... she killed the string a little too efficiently.

So when he steps behind the bar, his voice is unenthusiastic, and he isn't really looking around. "Anyone want anything?" Then he looks at the bar itself, and there, right in the middle of the surface, is a glossy black stone, with flecks of white threaded through it. It has his name carved on it in large, deep letters. BARTLEBY.

His mouth opens a little in surprise, and he reaches to touch the stone. As soon as his fingers encounter the chill of the surface, there is the sudden bright flash of an image in his head. Himself, sleeping, sprawled across the bed with his wings trailing, skin smooth and pale and beautiful, features so finely carved. The watcher sighs with pleasure. And the watcher is the Fool. He lets out a small cry of surprise, and steps back from the stone, staring at it with eyes wide and unblinking. He can see now that there is a letter underneath the stone.

[ooc: back in 15-20 mins.]

Comments

[notsoyoung.livejournal.com]

*David sees Bartleby enter, and immediately ducks his head, looking furiously at his pad of paper*

[watch-wait.livejournal.com]

Bartleby doesn't notice David. He doesn't notice anyone. He approaches the stone again, and, very carefully not touching it, slides the lettere out from underneath.

[notsoyoung.livejournal.com]

*he raises his eyes and watches interestedly. Big black rock on bar = an interested David. Maybe he can feel something from it, or from Bartleby as he takes the letter*

[watch-wait.livejournal.com]

Bartleby opens the letter, and... he hadn't quite believed it would really be from the Fool. But it is.

[notsoyoung.livejournal.com]

*the look and Bartleby's face is indistinguishable; could be heartbreak, could be angst, could be a tax return for all he knows.

So he gathers his courage, stepping over to the bar and sitting down*

Everything okay, Bartleby?

*and then adds*

Can I have a cup of coffee, please?

[watch-wait.livejournal.com]

Bartleby flinches. "Uh... coffee. Yeah." He puts the letter down in a controlled way, as though he'd half ike to be flinging it across the room.

[notsoyoung.livejournal.com]

*he looks at the letter, and back at Bartleby*

Bad news?

[watch-wait.livejournal.com]

"No. It's... wonderful news. It should be wonderful news."

And then suddenly, as though just remembering something, his eyes snap to David's face. "I havea bone to pick with you, Talbot."

[notsoyoung.livejournal.com]

*his eyebrows rise and he swallows his sip of coffee*

Yes?

[watch-wait.livejournal.com]

"And you know what it is." Bartleby keeps his eyes on David's face.

[notsoyoung.livejournal.com]

*he nods but doesn't take his eyes from Bartleby's and he takes another sip of coffee*

I'm sorry I broke your truce again. I'm not sorry I...

*he sighs*

I love him. I'm not sorry. Just... blame me.

[watch-wait.livejournal.com]

"I'm not going to blame just you. It's half-Charlie, half-you. But we're dealing with you.

"If you love him, Talbot, then for fuck's sake either be with him or leave him alone."

[notsoyoung.livejournal.com]

It's not up to me. My choice is simple: if he wants me, I'm his. If he doesn't, then I'm gone. And he...

*he sighs, dropping his head into his hands*

Somehow, this would seem easier if you were yelling, hitting, kicking, punching biting screaming at me.

I do love him. More than life.

[watch-wait.livejournal.com]

"Oh, I'm not planning on this being easy." Bartleby's face is hard. "And you don't have the willpower to say no?"

[notsoyoung.livejournal.com]

*he ignores the sense of foreboding, and shakes his head*

I don't have a reason to say no.

[watch-wait.livejournal.com]

"No, you don't, do you? No decency? No conscience? Oh, silly me. Must have been thinking of someone else."

[notsoyoung.livejournal.com]

I've never been known to turn something down if I really want it. And I love Charlie - I have been in love with him since that first night.

I don't see why I should say no to him just because...

because of you *he thinks miserably*

[watch-wait.livejournal.com]

"Have you ever been unselfish?" Bartleby shakes his head. "Because, at least for the moment, and until he says otherwise to me, he's taken?"

[notsoyoung.livejournal.com]

I wasn't ever selfish. At least I'm being totally honest. I want him because I love him.

*he sighs* And yes, I'm aware of that. But he knows... knows... all he has to do is ask and I'm gone.

[bloodyrockgod]

Charlie sits at the end of the bar with guitar and kitten, and watches the discussion with distress--but in silence except for quietly plucked guitar strings and occasional coos to Cow.

[watch-wait.livejournal.com]

Bartleby doesn't notice him, focused on pinning David down.

[watch-wait.livejournal.com]

"D'you know how many times you've said 'I want' in this conversation, Talbot?"

[notsoyoung.livejournal.com]

No, but I'm sure you've counted. Let me know when I decide to care.

*he rolls his eyes*

[watch-wait.livejournal.com]

[ooc: ooh, harsh.]


"Back the fuck off, Talbot. You had your chance, you fucked it up, you tried to manipulate him into coming back, you fucked that up too, now give us some fucking breathing-space, okay?" Bartleby leans forward onto the bar. His eyes are glittering.

[notsoyoung.livejournal.com]

*he almost sneers* [OOC: And the mun can't actually be evil enough to say what he was GOING to say, as in: "yes, and I fucked him, too" because that's WAAY too OOC and harsh]

There was no manipulation. I gave him a choice, like he gave me mine. *he leans onto the bar, squaring up to Bartleby. Angel or not, David's not backing down*