milliways_bar | (no subject)

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From the bar, the sounds of an Amberite cracking up.

The scent of candles and chocolate.

One (1) chocolate cupcake with two (2) birthday candles stuck in it, provided by the lady bar.

Happy milliversary, Random. Two years to the day.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

And she won't bring him (it) up, so long as that lets her pretend there's not an elephant in the room.

"No, not for a while. Have you?"

"Trying not to. She's pissed that I got someone knocked up."

Which is her own problem, far as he's concerned.

"She mentioned that," she murmurs, thinking back.

"Keeping your distance from each other seems like a wise idea."

"Her own fault she doesn't know when to keep her nose out of other people's business."

Random, as far as he's concerned, could very much live without meddling siblings.

She can't help smirking faintly.

"I thought the Amberite motto was keeping your nose in other people's business. Especially family."

"So do most of us. Someone'll cold cock Fi off her high horse any day now."

Random'll watch from the sidelines with a smirk.

"I'll take your word for it," she says.

"Any other family fireworks?"

"Keeping my nose out of it."

He shakes his head.

"For Martin's sake, as much as mine. Not to mention Ramon, God."

She nods.

"I don't blame you. Staying below the radar's just the better option a lot of the time."

It's not a strategy she's particularly good at, but that doesn't mean she's ignorant of it.

"I love him, and as a tactician there's no one I'd rather have at my back, but God is he not subtle in terms of politics."

Random runs an amused hand through his hair.

She laughs.

"No kidding. He's a great friend, but subtlety is nowhere in him that I've seen."

"So. Fucking. Refreshing."

You know where you stand with Ramon. Always.

The laughter softens into a small smile.

"After your family, I'd imagine so."

"Part of why I went for him, hard and fast."

He grins.

"Though, I swear to God, that man has more women hit on him than I could shake a stick at. Don't ask me why."

Mary Anne manages not to blush.

"Doubt I can explain it, either."

"He's a complete chauvenist, too. I mean, I'd understand it if he was a charmer, but he's got a bit of the 'fuck off or sleep with me, you take your pick' attitude going on that's not traditionally an asset for a girl in bed."

Random's different, for some reason, too.

"I'm a pretty far cry from traditional, so I can't speak for most girls," she says.

"But sometimes the whole fuck off chauvinist thing is its own kind of charisma; sort of reverse psychology."

Just look at her list of exes.

"See, he started like that with me, and then I hit him repeatedly till he got his head on straight, and then we hit the sheets."

Of course, this whole process took three days total, so he can't really talk.

She laughs.

"If at first you don't succeed, hit him until it works out?"

"Works like a charm. Although, it's now 'if at first you don't succeed, refuse to have sex with him until he sees your point of view.'"

Both have equally effective results.

"Nothing like withdrawal symptoms to bring them around to your side."

"Precisely."

He gives her a suitably evil grin.

She responds with an equally evil one.

"It is so nice to have the trump card, if you'll pardon the pun."

"Oh, both parties have it, it's just about having the patience to use it."

Or, alternatively, taking matters into your own hand when said other party tries.

"True," she says.

"But if you doubt that they've got the patience..."