latino_menace | OOM: Mary Anne again

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OOM: Mary Anne again

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Ramon feels just a little light-headed as he opens the door to the house in Portugal. Probably just his body getting used to having blood again after losing a few pints. Or maybe it's just shock...but it doesn't matter, because the only thing he wants now is a drink, regardless of whether he should or not.

And one other thing. There's something he needs to see, though he'll never admit it. It can wait a few minutes anyway because he needs to get the blood off his hands first...and he's pretty sure that Mary Anne wouldn't mind a drink either.

'Still like tequila?'

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Ramon smiles, actually thinking that that's quite endearing. And he does something he's never done before, which is lean down and plant a kiss on the top of his head.

'No, it's OK. I just wanted to see if you were alright.'

He knows time doesn't pass while he's in the bar, which is why he feels he can leave him to go there. But still. If he's just learned anything, it's that the unexpected can blindside you at any moment. If he had died and Mary Anne had had to come find him, then he would have woken up here alone. Random would have been beside himself when he got back and Ramon shudders to think that anger could have been the last emotion he felt towards him.

'I'm taking tomorrow off work. You want to do something?'

Ramon? Has just made the Bug's life. He smiles (a little shyly) and buries his chin in Kitty's fur,

"Fishing? Slam it down an' hold it by the head?"

Fishing is a good thing to do with Pai. It means that they're there, and quiet, and productive, and generally Pai seems happy if he's killing something. So.

A hand remains for a moment, brushing through his hair, and Ramon says,

'Yeah. We can go fishing if you like. Could even get one of the big boats out and catch some of the huge fuckers.'

But just them and a pier would be alright too. It won't be as good as having the real thing with him, he knows that. He also knows that nights like tonight won't last. But still. Better than nothing and Random will be pleased to hear about it when he get back.

'You should go back to sleep then. You'll need to be awake for it.'

"'Kay."

He lays back down, obediently,

"Don't care which fishes. I like fishing."

And as sleep claims him again (like going under for the third time, he's out almost as soon as his eyes are closed),

"Love pai."

'Yeah, I know you do.'

He says it distractedly, still watching him, looking for the last glimpse of green as the small lids close.

Almost fucked it all up Random, Jesus.

He sighs as he turns away, mutters a quiet, 'Sleep well, filho,' as he turns the light off and leaves the room. He'll work it all out later, there are other priorities now that's done.

A shower is the next order of business and then, drinking a lot - ten minutes later he's back in the living room, clean and in fresh clothes, picking up his glass in order to fill the last slot on the list with as much gusto as he can manage.

'Sorry about that. He wanted to know about the blood.'

Sort of true. He hardly wants to explain that he felt the need to be close to a toddler just then.

The corner of her mouth quirks in a smile. "S'alright."

The kid's important, to Random and by proxy, to him. Maybe even directly someday. There's time.

He'd say it was unlikely, but he said that about falling for someone too, once upon a time.

He drains his glass before sitting down, refills it and offers the bottle back to her. His gaze is fixed firmly about three inches to the left of her face.

'Thanks. For...'

A vague hand gesture. She knows what he means.

She takes the bottle, topping off her own glass then setting the bottle back on the table.

"You're welcome."

She knows. No point reliving the gory details.

He doesn't know what he's supposed to say now, but that's never stopped him in the past. Easiest thing to do in situations like this is just brazen it out.

So he relaxes back into the armchair, crosses his legs, and asks,

'What have you been up to then?'

as though the last six months of not talking hadn't happened at all.

She's content to ignore those months.

"Well, kissed a few girls, got a job, met King Kong and I have a horse."

She shrugs.

"Those are the highlights."

'Girls, eh?'

He smirks, with his customary leer. And doesn't ask about Ruin, or Julian, because why make this difficult? Plenty of time for that if the peace holds.

'I didn't know you were into them.'

The other tings, interesting though they sound, can take a backseat for a moment. He is, after all, a guy.

She's missed that leer.

"Neither did I. But I guess you never know what you like until you try it."

'I guess so.'

He appears to muse for a moment, as he lights a cigarette and takes a deep lungful of smoke. It tastes good. Everything tends to, after nearly dying.

'More fun than meeting a giant ape, anyway.'

"More fun than getting picked up and thrown by one."

She salutes him with her glass before knocking back some more tequila.

He's examining her quietly as he sits, although it may not be obvious. For all intents and purposes, he's just working steadily through his drink, intent on getting to the next as fast as possible. But she's....different, and it makes him curious.

'Where was this?'

Six months is a long time. People change when you aren't looking.

"New York, 1930 or there abouts. Went to see the opening of my friend Jack's play. Turns out King Kong was on display a few doors down, at least until he tore loose."

She takes another drink. "Was an interesting evening, that's for sure."

And he's never been the most observant when it comes to people.

'Sounds it.'

A fingernail taps the side of his glass. It sounds loud in the room, to his ears anyway.

'Horse?'

"Present from Namo and Gorlim. Two year old stallion, haven't named him yet."

She smiles faintly into her glass. "And I have no idea how to ride him, but never hurts to try something new, right?"

'No, it doesn't.'

He supposes not. Doesn't really bother, himself. There's that thing about old dogs and new tricks.

'Riding's good. I have use of Arithon's stallion. Don't need him really, I just bought a ranch on another world.'

Small talk, small talk. It's safe.

She's never been good at safe, but God, she's trying.

"Ranch, hm?"

She leans back against the couch, soft smile lingering. "Any special reason or just because you can?"

'I like horses.'

He looks innocent - for a given value of - for a moment, then cracks a small smile as well.

'And it's part of the front for the new business. There are other things, but that's one. Space for the kid, anyway.'

It's a nice attempt at innocent.

"Getting things started up again? You need a gun hand or a babysitter, you know where to find me."

Lady of many talents, this one.

'Gun hands are always useful.'

It's a concession, of sorts; a nod to the way he doesn't intend to blow her off again. Because to someone like him...well, saving his life levels things in his eyes. She could have just left him there. And he has to trust people who do work for him. So.

'Babysitting...' a small hesitation, '...depends on Random.'

He knows that she's not exactly his favourite person at the moment.

She knows it too.

"It's...You don't have to ask any time soon," she says, turning her attention back to her glass.

"We'll stick with guns for now. They're simpler."

There's a small, sarcastic, snort into his drink as he raises it again. It's not like he can ask anything of Random just now.

'Yeah.'

And if that's an uneasy look...well, he's just been shot. He's allowed.

'Definitely simpler, and generally more fun.'

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