milliways_bar | (no subject)

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"But musing what an easy thing it were to mix our opiates in a larger cup," Autor says, patting the counter in preparation to hop over it. "And drink, and not perceive"—and here he hops—"sleep deepening lead his truer kinsman up, like undistinguished Night, darkening the skirts of Eve.*"

After a few minutes of setting up his prior preparations, the boy reaches for the specials board. "Good night, Bar."

Bitter Chocolate Aria
Hot chocolate & one croissant

Submission Sonata
Virgin strawberry & wasabi daiquiri

Ode to Blood
Giga ant eggs, sour apple juice, seltzer water, flavored ice

Fiery Trigon
Grenadine, lemon juice, apple juice, passion fruit juice, & cinnamon

Silent Overture
Free coffee if you can prove that you’re knighted

Note: Virgin bar.

[This post is open forever.]

*Ode to Sleep , Richard Chenevix Trench

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The tired one, happy to curl around his cup for warmth. The one who has thin white scars and faded bruises which mark his knuckles. The pale one, with new, faint smile lines. The one who permits himself to indulge in his tea rather than just drink it.

The one who knows Lohengrin is watching, and doesn't mind.

Edited 2013-05-07 06:55 (UTC)

And Lohengrin isn't about to break this peace.

Until he tears a piece of his croissant and finds chocolate on the inside. He doesn't say anything but he does give the pastry and then Autor a curious look.

Autor blinks at him. "Oh, is it too sweet? I have regular ones," he says. "Wait, you've had chocolate, right? You've been to Milliways long enough."

The one who's genuinely oblivious.

"I've had chocolate but...you gave me chocolate?"

What's that about, Autor?

It takes the kid a little bit to get it, but when he does, he nearly drops his teacup. He certainly chokes. "What? No! You are interesting, Sir Lohengrin, but you are not that interesting, and not even in that--ew!" he says, trembling with the effort it takes to suppress his flailing. "I gave you one of those because that's how I baked them, and I was told that chocolate goes well with coffee, and you're not the only one I've given these to, I mean, really.

"And I would never..." he says softly, his eye trailing to fall on the Lohengrin wedding ring. Autor drops his head, taking a breath, and then meets the Knight's gaze firmly.

"I don't know whatever we have between us, but it is certainly not that," he says, and then clears his throat, looking away. "Um. Not on my end, anyway."

Way to read into a pastry, Lohengrin.

Way to read into his reaction, Autor.

"....I only wanted to know why it was a chocolate pastry."

Autor picks up his teacup and drains the still-wavering contents. "Because I baked them that way."

The one who is ever awkward.

And that does seem to be the better answer. Lohengrin takes a bite of the pastry.

"So some good can come of you," he comments.

Autor's smile is a flicker of movement. "Sunshine taught me. She must have purified me just enough to make a croissant."

"Her valor must shine as bright as her name to accomplish that task."

"Oh, yes," he says, and offers to top off Lohengrin's mug of coffee. "Much more than a Knight's."

Edited 2013-05-07 21:13 (UTC)

His eyebrow twitches.

"I thought we established just earlier in this conversation that it's not my place to transfigure you so."

"Ah-!" Autor squeaks, and stares at his shoes. "No, that's all wrong, too. Sunshine's not... It's not like that."

He traces his thumb across the handle of his cup thoughtfully. When he offered answers, he didn't think the Knight would ask about relationships.

Lohengrin gives a quiet little snerk.

"No. I wouldn't think it's her anyway."

The boy sips his tea quietly. "You already know who it is."

His stare is challenging. Baiting.

Curious.

"I do."

Hence the serious look on his face.

Challenge met, bait accepted, curiosity... still not quite sated, but the boy's never is.

He stares at his tea. "You're also well aware that isn't the only way to change a person," Autor says, faintly surprised that he said it.

"Certainly. I'm just not good at kidding."

"Noooo," Autor says, drawing the syllable out thoughtfully. "But you are quite good at avoiding the hapless removal of an arm."

"And I imagine you'll be put through your paces in the art of submission."

Autor doesn't know whether to blush or crack up. He does both.

"I've started running because of her," he admits. "Obviously I wouldn't be able to duel you any better, but I wouldn't run out of breath as quickly."

Then he grins. "And I might be able to hit you harder, too, in the unlikely event that I catch you by surprise again."

"Just a reminder to live up to my words."

Next time, if there is a next time, there won't be as much mercy. First blood, no hesitation.

Autor shakes his head, grinning ruefully. "You don't need those. Especially not from me."

He leans on the counter again, strangely comfortable. Well, as comfortable as he gets, anyway.

If they did duel again, Autor knows he'd be destroyed. But he'd try again.

~~If Punie doesn't do it first.~~

It's another nice lull and Lohengrin takes the moment to enjoy his coffee.

The lull is nice, and Autor revels in his tea, prolonging the silence. And now it's his turn to observe, though he never really stops. He's amazed, though, at the change in the Knight. Bantering, snark, cool-headed advice--all shades of things he's seen from Lohengrin before.

But the boy has rarely been around the man when he wasn't suffering from some sort of agony--Autor-inflicted or otherwise.

He furrows his brow and refills his tea. "I don't suppose you'd like more coffee?" he says, and manages a grin. "I'm just waiting for the caffeine to kick in."