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[ Sometimes after your shift, when you're already midway back to your shared apartment, you realise you left your coinpurse at work and then swear before you go back to get it. It could wait until tomorrow, but Skylark knows that just means he gets to be anxious the whole time.
He definitely isn't going to walk in on something between his boss and co-worker. Absolutely not. ]
He definitely isn't going to walk in on something between his boss and co-worker. Absolutely not. ]
[ as usual after his shift, bradley's having a drink with nero. the drink is good, but it's what comes after that really puts a golden brooch at the end of a busy day. nero and bradley always talk about nothing for a few minutes until somehow ("somehow") they end up in each other's personal space, with nero clinging to the front of bradley's shirt and bradley tilting nero's chin his way, kissing him deeply, like they're the only two people in the world.
and right now, in nero's restaurant, that might as well be true, because there's no way anyone would ever walk in on them like this when it's after closing hours :) ]
and right now, in nero's restaurant, that might as well be true, because there's no way anyone would ever walk in on them like this when it's after closing hours :) ]
[ It happens sometimes , when they're both there right after closing. A glass of wine, a little talk. With nobody else around them, Nero let's go of the facade that they're nothing more than coworkers.
There's no bell on the front door, as quiet as he prefers his restaurant to be. And so he completely misses the fact they've got company, tugging at Bradley's tie and deepening the kiss. The world has narrowed down to just the two of them.
Except not really. ]
There's no bell on the front door, as quiet as he prefers his restaurant to be. And so he completely misses the fact they've got company, tugging at Bradley's tie and deepening the kiss. The world has narrowed down to just the two of them.
Except not really. ]
[ Skylark's so relieved that the front door is unlocked that he doesn't stop to actually think about what that means and heads right in.
(Somewhere, Crane would be disappointed and probably shake him for forgetting basic ass rules about walking into places that very distinctly aren't his. Where is your sense of caution, idiot?)
It occurs to him like maybe less than ten seconds after that wait, there's someone still here? Shouldn't everyone have headed back already? Maybe Boss is h— ]
(Somewhere, Crane would be disappointed and probably shake him for forgetting basic ass rules about walking into places that very distinctly aren't his. Where is your sense of caution, idiot?)
It occurs to him like maybe less than ten seconds after that wait, there's someone still here? Shouldn't everyone have headed back already? Maybe Boss is h— ]
[ Oh.
That sure is Mr. Nero and Mr. Bradley making out over drinks. ]
That sure is Mr. Nero and Mr. Bradley making out over drinks. ]
[
That sure is Mr. Nero and Mr. Bradley making out over drinks he should leave right now before they notice him the coinpurse can wait until tomorrow it is not worth this awkwardness let's just turn around and GO ]
That sure is Mr. Nero and Mr. Bradley making out over drinks he should leave right now before they notice him the coinpurse can wait until tomorrow it is not worth this awkwardness let's just turn around and GO ]
[ And then he walks into one of the little wooden walls of one of the dining table cubicles like an idiot.
So much for a stealthy exit. ]
So much for a stealthy exit. ]
[The absolute second Nero hears something out of place, he's shoving Bradley away, face bright red. Ignore that, ignore all of that, pretend you didn't see a second of it. Please?]
Lark?
Lark?
[ Instantly, the most blatantly untrue thing anyone could say right now with their face in their hands: ]
I saw nothing.
I saw nothing.
You didn't.
[Agreeing, immediately. He takes a step away from Bradley and straightens out his clothes like that makes anybody less suspicious. His clothes are fine, his mouth isn't bruised, he didn't spend the last ten minutes making out with anybody.
Everything is normal.]
Forget something?
[Agreeing, immediately. He takes a step away from Bradley and straightens out his clothes like that makes anybody less suspicious. His clothes are fine, his mouth isn't bruised, he didn't spend the last ten minutes making out with anybody.
Everything is normal.]
Forget something?
[ Maybe that's why Lark hasn't put his hands down yet, to let at least one person here try to salvage their dignity.
Well, and also because this was just really embarrassing and he's sure if he put down his hands right now they'd see how flustered he is. ]
I accidentally left my coinpurse here...
[ So that answers both questions. ]
Well, and also because this was just really embarrassing and he's sure if he put down his hands right now they'd see how flustered he is. ]
I accidentally left my coinpurse here...
[ So that answers both questions. ]
Edited 2022-09-28 00:44 (UTC)
[Brushes himself off]
What does it look like?
[What a good boy who doesn't steal.
Should they teach him how to steal? Maybe.]
What does it look like?
[What a good boy who doesn't steal.
Should they teach him how to steal? Maybe.]
[ Sir he doesn't need those lessons when he can already do crime perfectly fine.
But fine, Bradley had a point. He lowers his hands and it's still obvious that his cheeks are pretty red. ]
It's about this big—[ He gesture with his hands to show that it's round-ish and big enough to sit in his palm. ]—and it's got an iris pattern on it.
But fine, Bradley had a point. He lowers his hands and it's still obvious that his cheeks are pretty red. ]
It's about this big—[ He gesture with his hands to show that it's round-ish and big enough to sit in his palm. ]—and it's got an iris pattern on it.
[ good. stealing is an important life lesson everyone needs to know.
he doesn't move from his seat, leaning back on it with his regular manspread and his arms hanging from the backrest. lark saw. he definitely saw. he knows nero's acting normal now but he's really gonna let brad have it later, as if he were the only one at fault.
he says nothing about the coinpurse because he wasn't here most of the day, but nero might know where it is. ]
he doesn't move from his seat, leaning back on it with his regular manspread and his arms hanging from the backrest. lark saw. he definitely saw. he knows nero's acting normal now but he's really gonna let brad have it later, as if he were the only one at fault.
he says nothing about the coinpurse because he wasn't here most of the day, but nero might know where it is. ]
[This is why the restaurant needs to be off limits! People can just waltz on in here. They should've gone to a hotel. They should've locked the door. They should've done anything other than what led to this outcome.
Nero ducks into the kitchen and manages to find it after a bit of shuffling around. It also helps him calm down, being out of sight for a moment or two.]
Nero ducks into the kitchen and manages to find it after a bit of shuffling around. It also helps him calm down, being out of sight for a moment or two.]
[ Skylark just...watches the two of them, how they're carrying themselves and the apparent tension in the air after he accidentally walked in on this. Feels like he could cut it just by waving a knife around. It's so awkward and it kind of feels like his fault? ]
Thank you. [ For retrieving his coinpurse. ] And, uhm...sorry. [ To both of them. ]
Thank you. [ For retrieving his coinpurse. ] And, uhm...sorry. [ To both of them. ]
[ bradley... doesn't know what to do. he knows nero's gonna be frustrated at himself, lark is probably piecing things together in his head... so as the only known bad guy in this situation, it's up to him to take the brunt of it. SIGHS.
he suddenly sneers, his shoulders shaking a little as he laughs under his breath. ]
Aaah. Tamamo territory is the best, isn't it, kid? [ he shrugs exaggeratedly. ] Everyone here's so easy. You can walk up to whoever you want and do whatever you want, and they'll never say no if you're intimidating enough, even if they're your boss, did you know? Haha.
he suddenly sneers, his shoulders shaking a little as he laughs under his breath. ]
Aaah. Tamamo territory is the best, isn't it, kid? [ he shrugs exaggeratedly. ] Everyone here's so easy. You can walk up to whoever you want and do whatever you want, and they'll never say no if you're intimidating enough, even if they're your boss, did you know? Haha.
[Ah. That's one way to distract him, but it's also the worst possible avenue available? Is Bradley saying he's easy? And trying to say that Lark could just go up to anybody and make out with them?
In the background is Nero visibly holding back something, shaking slightly. There are suddenly a collection of floating knives where there weren't before, trembling like they're only seconds away from being launched.]
In the background is Nero visibly holding back something, shaking slightly. There are suddenly a collection of floating knives where there weren't before, trembling like they're only seconds away from being launched.]
[ Lark's immediate reaction is a cross of irritation and confusion. The irritation is kneejerk; the only reasons why he doesn't immediately try to do something stupid to Bradley are that he's already learnt that lesson as a younger child (he lost that fistfight, as expected) and also because he likes living and being alive, thanks.
He also has eyes (unfortunately!) and as much ase he doesn't really want to recall any specific details right now, he's pretty sure Bradley and Nero were both into it? Why is this guy talking crap? And don't try to tell him he can't tell the difference, his family are all courtesans! ]
But wasn’t Mr. Nero—
He also has eyes (unfortunately!) and as much ase he doesn't really want to recall any specific details right now, he's pretty sure Bradley and Nero were both into it? Why is this guy talking crap? And don't try to tell him he can't tell the difference, his family are all courtesans! ]
But wasn’t Mr. Nero—
[ —Why the fuck are there knives. ]
Wait wait wait!
Wait wait wait!
[ oh shit his scary wife is in scary mode!!
even if he had his magic, he would have run away because he never attacks nero, so him rushing out of his seat and running behind lark, picking him up from under his arms to use as a human shield is just his normal reaction. ]
Oi, Nero. Chill! You idiot, they're floating!
[ does this kid know you're a wizard??? he doesn't know if lark knows or not but either way, this should keep him alive??? ]
even if he had his magic, he would have run away because he never attacks nero, so him rushing out of his seat and running behind lark, picking him up from under his arms to use as a human shield is just his normal reaction. ]
Oi, Nero. Chill! You idiot, they're floating!
[ does this kid know you're a wizard??? he doesn't know if lark knows or not but either way, this should keep him alive??? ]
[In fact, Nero does not know that Lark knows that he's a wizard. Sometimes anger is a great motivator. Or blinder. One or other other.
Nero is usually a very laid back kind of guy. So maybe it's a surprise to see him right on the edge of violence. Violence that he could very easily commit with the sheer number of knives that are currently pointed towards the other two.]
Don't say that shit!
[The knives don't rush towards them, their slow approach almost menacing.]
Nero is usually a very laid back kind of guy. So maybe it's a surprise to see him right on the edge of violence. Violence that he could very easily commit with the sheer number of knives that are currently pointed towards the other two.]
Don't say that shit!
[The knives don't rush towards them, their slow approach almost menacing.]
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