(no subject)

[likeroaringlions]

((So James Moriarty and William Douglas ran into each other at the bar and it seemed like a reasonable idea to look for the Labyrinth. They didn't find it, but there's still plenty of arguing and arson.))

William Douglas comes in carrying a curved stick and smelling of smoke. Cigarette smoke, wood smoke. That might have something to do with the small fire set up on the mountainside, but don't worry, it isn't spreading towards Milliways.

He's also carrying a bit of a Mood over his head, to match the smoke.

Comments

[not_his_pa]

William looks up from his book at the smell of smoke and spots the other William and walks over, "What's on fire?"

[likeroaringlions]

"Nothing, now." He leans his shinty stick against the bar and glances over at the other young man before ordering an ale. "It's burned out."

[not_his_pa]

"Good, but why were you lightin' a fire?" He gets a refill on his coffee.

[likeroaringlions]

"No reason," he says shortly. But a good long pull from his ale seems to brighten his mood a bit; he shrugs half-apologetically and elaborates. "No reason, it was just an old dead tree up on the mountain."

[not_his_pa]

William looks the other boy over, that doesn't seem a good reason, "Was it goin' to fall down?"

[likeroaringlions]

William doesn't much like that looking-over. He returns it. "Some day. Everything does, doesn't it? What's it all to you?"

[not_his_pa]

"Fire has a mind of its own and I was here when the stables went up."

[likeroaringlions]

Hmnngh, don't remind him about that. Not that he was here when the stables went up, but he's been told about it. By someone he respects. With a strong side of Leave Jim Moriarty alone.

Which is probably why he sounds so defensive when he says, "Aye well, didn't I say it was burned out? It was nowhere near the fucking stables."

[not_his_pa]

"You did and that's good. Just never got the idea of lightin' a fire if you're not plantin' or usin' it to cook on."

[likeroaringlions]

"And you've never done anything just for fun, is that it?"

If the other guy weren't fundamentally right, William probably wouldn't feel the need to argue so hard. But--best defense, and all that.

[not_his_pa]

"Usually not involvin' fire," He's gotten into a lot of fights for fun.

[likeroaringlions]

"Well, aren't you a fucking saint, then."

Yes, this is shaping up to be one of the worst days of his life, all right.

[not_his_pa]

"And you're the devil come to tempt me to light stupid shit on fire?" He puts as much sarcasm as possible into his voice, apparently this other William's good at spreading his bad mood.

[fieryface]

Nothing that strange about smelling like a bit of smoke-- and nothing that strange, either, about William in a dark mood.

"Where've you been, then?" Jamie asks, maybe a touch heartier than usual.

[likeroaringlions]

Probably nothing that strange about William's instant look of welp-I've-been-a-bit-of-an-ass-but-you-still-like-me-right? when James shows up, either. He lifts his shinty stick in awkward greeting. "Oh, I've been--out and about, aye?" A pause, and he shifts in his seat. "Well...did anyone tell you about a Labyrinth thing here?"

[fieryface]

"They-- yes?" Or did he dream that? No, it was just when he thought this was a dream. "Won't catch me anywhere near it. Is that where you went?"

[likeroaringlions]

"No...well...aye, I went looking for it, but I dinny find it, did I. It's supposed to be up the mountain, but no luck. --Want a drink?"

[fieryface]

"Go on then. --why'd you go looking?" he adds as he takes a seat.

[likeroaringlions]

Here's another ale all for you, Jamie. And a sheepish-looking Douglas. "Well...eh...so I ran into Jim, aye? He had a hurling stick, that's their game like shinty that they play in Ireland. Funny flat stick though, not curved like a caman..."

That's sort of not really an answer, is it. "So anyway I'd been talking to...to him when he's older...eh, you've met that Jim, have you? And he'd said something about the Labyrinth, so I said something to the one that's more our age, a little younger, maybe more your age..."

poor choices were made okay

[fieryface]

...Jamie has an inkling where this is going.

"Oh, aye? And what kind of thing did you say to him?"

[likeroaringlions]

jamie is a smart person

"Well, I asked if he knew anything about the Labyrinth, and he said why not go have a look, and I said alright why not...?"

[fieryface]

Jamie shakes his head. "Well, it canny be too bad, if they keep it around the place, right?"

[likeroaringlions]

"Right!" He brightens again. See, Jamie's not mad. "Right, it canny be too bad. And anyway we didn't find it, did we. Just...went up the mountain and found an old path or two. It's nice up there, Jamie, you'd like it, there's a ledge where you can look out all over the forest."

Really he should have just been going out there with Jamie in the first place. Then he wouldn't have to be squashing down memories of the conversation with Jim right about now.

[fieryface]

"That sounds alright," Jamie says. "Turned out to be a good sort, then, this Jim?"

[likeroaringlions]

"Eh...nnn..."

maybe lighting will strike the roof of the bar right now

"I dinny think you'd get on with him?"