milliways_bar | (no subject)

'Oh.' He's surprised by that too, that anyone could just walk away from a situation like that. He'd be out there plotting to break two legs and shatter both arms in revenge. 'You must heal fast then. Are you going to get him back?'

His face darkens at the mention of family. You treat him like shit every day, and he's your brother... He tries to turn his mind off but it's just not possible. He settles on a neutral reply. 'Family is inevitable. Not much you can do about it.'

"Ah, yes. Good genetics. Mind you, pain's never slowed me down. I broke the bars out of the tower wall and scaled down the castle on my way out."

He smirks.

"And we have spoken. The general consensus reached was I'd been caught, and escaped, fair and square, and that next time he's going to break both arms."

Ramon's darkening face is easy to recognize.

"You sound, by your tone, like you're in much the same situation."

He snorts mirthlessly. 'I just bet you did as well.' He seems to run into a lot of people virtually immune to pain here. And he thought he was the only one like that - well, him and Jack. Having magic seemed to bring it all to new levels though. 'Well, maybe you should think about doing the same to him first. Before he gets his hands on you.'

At the reference to his family he lets out a long breath. 'No not really. I only have one brother. He's easy enough to subdue.' And you make sure you do don't you... Hector's anger and frustration wash through him and make his face curl up at the feel of it. He never knew it would be that strong.

"I'll change the topic."

He casts about in his head, quickly.

"So... why, exactly do you want a sword? I mean, you don't really need it. It'd take less time to set up a stable situation where you could kill someone with, say... a curtain cord than it would for a gunner to learn longsword."

He nods, thankful for the change and at the same time, wondering why Random didn't take the opportunity to torture him further. And then he knows why, and curses. Because good men don't do that, even if they don't like someone. It makes him feel even more like shit.

The small snort is mirthless again, but there's no pride in it, or gloating. It's more sad than anything. 'Of course I dont need it Random. I don't even need a curtain cord, bare hands are enough.' He toys with the neck of the bottle for a moment and again, he doesn't have the energy to lie. 'It just sends a message, thats all. That I could get it, that I'm willing to use it. Where I come from, you have to be seen to be powerful. And at the same time, true power is knowing when to not posture and just be willing to hide in a back alley and break the neck of your biggest rival - and take no credit for it.' He shrugs, trying to ignore the guilt of having done that, even though it was years ago. 'It's all a matter of choosing the best way of doing things.'

"I see."

He thinks for a moment.

"You won't believe this, because it's me. But were I in court, my actions would be to return the sword. The message of 'I don't need it' is then clearer, and considerably more impressive."

He smirks.

"But the last man I killed was with an umbrella, so you probably shouldn't listen to that advice. I've never scored high on the 'stylish murder' category."

He smirks and almost starts to like the man. 'Murder doesn't have to be stylish if it gets the job done.' He runs a hand over his face and smiles ruefully. 'You underestimate me slightly Random - I do listen to good advice, regardless of who it comes from.' His small smile is mischievious. 'I just dont credit where I got the idea from.'

He chuckles a little. 'And I see your point - but in this case, no, it would do no good. They won't mind being thrown off balance by the action if they think it benefits them. And who knows what I may eventually decide on.'

He has to shrug and break off, thinking of the planned revenge just makes it feel as though his head is in a vice. So he laughs and looks Random in the eye, with an amused gleam in his. 'An umbrella Random?'

"Murder shouldn't be stylish. Having it so encourages small children to think of it as 'cool.'"

He smiles, quickly.

"And perhaps you have earned a bit of respect. Though I don't agree with your counter arguments- I think you just enjoy pissing Gorlim off."

The smile twists into a smirk, at that. Which stays firmly in place.

"And it was on hand at the time. My irritation outweighed my care for my sister's household bricabrac."

He's taken aback by Random's comment on respect, thinking that it's strange that he'd earn respect by admitting crimes. Normally that just makes people hate him, or fear him, neither of which he minds. 'I'm afraid I've never really taken small children into account before.' He refuses to think about what he's done to small children in the past.

But he smiles easily enough at the mention of Gorlim. 'I don't know Gorlim and have nothing against him. Of course, if Andres carries on the way he is then...' He shrugs. He doesn't think he needs to point out that the best way of hurting Andres is to hurt the ones he cares about. 'And no, that wasn't the only reason I won't give the sword back. For a start, I wouldn't get my money back. And secondly, I wouldn't want to limit my options. You dont know the man I'm out for obviously. He's...' He searches for a word. '...tricky.'

Then he laughs a little. 'Her husband?'

"No, no. Her son."

Random's eyes are cool. Not a memory for sharing.

"And it's my turn to require a change of topic. Your preoccupation with the man confuses me. Both times we've spoken his name has been on your lips."

An arched eyebrow, and a slow devilish smile.

"What, am I not the only one with an interest in the tall, dark and handsome patrons of the bar?"

He nods, returning the favour by not asking. And then there's a sardonc smile.

'I wouldn't be preoccupied with him if he didn't take every opportunity to goad me. He's involved himself with something that he doesn't understand and won't be able to handle - and won't admit that he's out of his depth with it. Yes, it bothers me. And yes, he'll be removed if he tries to stand in my way.'

He talks on autopilot, unable to actually think about what he's saying, because it hurts, but meaning it just the same. He smiles though, slightly wickedly and with an eyebrow raise of his own.

'Well, him being tall dark and handsome doesn't affect me seeing as I'd never go there. but I'm sure he's worth it for those that do.'

"The single most attractive man I have ever met fit that description. A black Jazz Sax player from New Orleans"

He pronounces it 'Naw'leens'

"Huge man. At least seven feet tall. Gorgeous voice."

It's not that he's ignoring the comments about Andres. He just didn't learn anything new.

'Seven feet tall eh?' The smirk is definitely wicked now. 'Thats...big.' And that was said more than suggestively, but not in a sarcastic way.

'I can't say I've ever thought of anyone as my 'single most attractive' acquaintance but yours sounds nice.'

"Funniest thing ever, meeting him. He's blind as a bat, without his glasses. Can't see more than a foot in front of his face."

He rolls his eyes.

"So when he heard I was his new accompaniest, he picked me up to get a closer look at me."

He smirks.

"He was rather surprised when I snarled and bit him."

The laugh is genuine, if tired. 'I imagine he would be surprised. I take it he forgave you though?' An eyebrow raised suggestively. And then, 'What do you play?'

The absentminded answer is; "Oh, I don't think it was a question of forgiving, really."

He shakes his head at himself. This was a conversation that he had not thought he would be having.

"No. Not so much. I was playing drums at the time, and singing, though I play more than a few other instruments. Including the saxophone, which he taught me."

He can't be more surprised than Ramon is.

'A lot of people here seem to be musical. Is it something to do with magic do you think?'

"Nah. I think it's the bar. She has a taste for it."

He shrugs.

"Seven of the nine brothers work independant magic. And five of them couldn't carry a tune in a brass bucket. What about you? You could be one of those psychotic organ people who pounds away at it."

He mimes it briefly.

"You know the type."

He laughs again. ~~Damn, Random seems to bring that out in him 0_0~~

'I do know the type, I think I met one yesterday. Although he was very talented I think, although I'm no judge.' He shrugs. 'No, I dont play anything.' And then grins, to show he's kidding. 'I'll overlook the use of the word psychotic, even though thats probably what you think I am.'

Maybe not so much with the kidding.

Random smiles, in a rather 'you keep on telling yourself that' manner, and gracefully changes the topic.

"Who did you meet? The Lord Bard? Dark man, either a harp or a piano?"

It's a guess, but an educated one.

And Random brings that out in everyone. It's a gift.

Ramon notes the smile and isn't sure what it means but doesn't ask.

'I don't know, we didn't get round to introductions. He was too busy flashing fire and lightning from his body in my general direction. He was on the piano though, playing sad stuff. And he was dark.'

"Yeah, that's the Lord Bard."

He smiles.

"I'd tell you to try not to get on his bad side, but, well. Oops. Too late."

His eyes slide shut.

"You should probably apologize very politely, should you see him again. He's got enough power to to squish you like a bug."

His smile is sad again - and a touch embarrassed. 'I already did.' He snorts a little. 'I was absolved.'

He pauses before trying to justify it a bit. 'He caught me not long after the encounter with Arithon that brought all this on, so I was a bit touchy.' His hand heads for the bottle again. 'What's his power?'

"That would be telling."

He shakes his head.

"And if he said you were absolved, then he meant it. So your best bet would be avoid him till the whole thing's over."

And seeing the reach for the bottle, he rolls his eyes.

"Drink something non-alcoholic. It'll have exactly the same effect, and it'll give you less of a hangover."

Ramon raises an eyebrow. 'Tease.' Then there's a smile. 'Telling me could...'

He trails off. He was going to say 'could save my life' but he's pretty sure that Random doesn't care about that. 'What do you mean 'the whole thing'? If he doesn't like me now, he's hardly likely to find me good company when I'm back to my normal self.'

He smirks at the eyeroll. 'Hey, I think it started helping OK?' Stubborn, he is. But is gently mocking himself too, because he doesn't know what else to do. Everything about this day is more than weird for him, and this conversation is...nice. And thats possibly the weirdest thing of all.