Happy Hour

[clayforthedevil]

Bahorel grins when he finds the napkin waiting for him. "Why, Madame Bar, I thought you'd never ask."

He grins even more when he reads some of what it actually says. There seem to be so many excellent holidays here. He jumps over the bar and in neat calligraphy writes on the Specials board:

 

Happy Holiday Survival Hour
 

First Drink free with Confession of a Complaint

Any drink that gets set on fire 1/2 off

The bar's extremely open, folks.

((ooc: open until the next Happy Hour goes up!))

Comments

[wings_of_a_swan]

"He's a doctor from 2013, as frightening as it may be to think of such a man in a healing profession. For me, no one with such knowledge can be dull. I did talk to him for some time--not too long, but I tried to learn what exactly was the trouble with him. My imagination failed me." Combeferre half-smiles again. "He tried to convince me that Joly refused to call him 'doctor' because he'd stolen some books."

...No. No, it wasn't.

[clayforthedevil]

<a href ="http://cocktails.about.com/od/rumrecipes/r/Goblet-Of-Fire.htm> Goblet of Fire</a> it is then! (Apparently, from some books Bahorel's never heard of, but if it's got things like this than he might have to seek them out.) "The trouble with Lecter? He's a man who had power and enjoyed using it to hurt others. How is he any more of a mystery than every despot and bully in history?" Bahorel has no great interest in Lecter, reading recommendations aside; but Combeferre's opinion is worth hearing.

[wings_of_a_swan]

"I didn't know his crimes when I spoke to him. But--you are right that on one level he is no different from anyone else who glories in dominion over his fellow man, of course. The difference is more logistical and social than spiritual. The secret nature of his crimes--the way he passed for so long with no one knowing what he did--as well as the ways in which they violate even the most elementary social taboos and physical revulsions that even despots generally respect...well, all of that suggests mental processes that are quite apart from the norm, even for tyrants and bullies." He's repulsed by Lecter, but can't help wanting to know more about him, as he wants to know more about cholera and tuberculosis.

Combeferre takes the flaming glass from Bahorel. He claps his hand over the fire to extinguish it, sniffs it, and then takes a sip. It's delicious. Bahorel knows his spirits, one can't deny that. Combeferre grins.

[clayforthedevil]

"Oh, he's a vile sort, no question. I can see why he interests you-if you mean to be an alienist, you couldn't find a much better subject." Bahorel claps Combeferre on the shoulder. "Of course I'll help you if you mean to act against him somehow. But that's no reason to go looking to get your nose broken today, you know." He's grinning as he says it.

[wings_of_a_swan]

"Yes, I don't know if I can or need to act against him--but if so, I want to find out." It's extremely reassuring to know he would have Bahorel's help, though. Reassuring and slightly terrifying at the same time, because it's Bahorel.

"I'm not looking to get my nose broken at all, I confess. I suppose I haven't profited from your example sufficiently for that. If I were a better disciple, I'd have already punched him." Combeferre puts on an expression of mock-shame.

[clayforthedevil]

As though there could even be a question that he'd stand with his friends in a fight. He ruffles Combeferre's hair on account of him being ridiculous.

"If you'd learned anything from me you'd still have your dragon in its box, and a proper hangover after that party." Bahorel doesn't have a hangover, but that's from practice and a vast amount of coffee. "Did the little beast really bite you?"

[wings_of_a_swan]

Sometimes it's reassuring to hear things you already know. Combeferre tries to look disapproving and dignified as Bahorel ruffles his hair, but it's a lost cause, and he grins sheepishly instead.

"Well, I stuck my finger between its jaws while I was trying to learn how it worked, and somehow the mechanism got set off."

Yes, yes, Combeferre knows this wasn't a prudent move. Possibly the reason why he usually doesn't indulge in drinking to the extent of getting hangovers is that he's capable of sufficient impracticality while sober.

[clayforthedevil]

Bahorel claps. A little impracticality is good for the soul! "And did you discover the secret of it?"

[wings_of_a_swan]

"Some of it, yes. Though I don't yet fully understand how battery power works. So thank you again for the gift, Bahorel--it's proved most instructive." Combeferre says this with a half-grin. Because Bahorel wants nothing more than to instruct, of course.