Spike's Pub is Open 12/23

[ac-brothers.livejournal.com]

Loz was out of town. An effort to get parts for CJ's car. That left Kadaj and Yazoo in the pub alone. There wasn't any worry being one man short. Classes were finished at the campus and most people had headed home for this 'holiday's' thing they celebrated.

TV on for music videos, Yazoo was trying his hand at this darts game Spike had put up while Kadaj worked behind the bar.





[ooc- The mun has to go to bed early tonight. If you come in for a drink, Kadaj or Yazoo will get it for you. No fighting, no sex in the pub or the bathrooms, no breaking up the furniture, no filching on your tab. Have a good night!]

Comments

[bens-mikey.livejournal.com]

Michael enters the pub, not looking particularly comfortable. He spies Yazoo by the dart board and walks over, placing a bottle of mezcal (http://www.tastings.com/scout_spirits.lasso?id=172403) that has a ribbon around the neck on a table nearby. "Hunter asked me to give this to you."

[ac-brothers.livejournal.com]

It paid to be the gunman. Even with something new like darts, his accuracy was pretty good. Yazoo threw the last dart and turned to see Michael set the bottle down. "For me," he said flatly. "And it's from Hunter?"

[bens-mikey.livejournal.com]

Michael nods. "It's a Christmas gift." He wonders if they even know what that is, although it's probably been explained to them. "A sort of thank you for being nice to him when he was out here." Michael shifts uncomfortably. He still does not approve of Hunter's friendship with this unpredictable man. "He and his fiancee are coming to visit again next week. I'm sure he'll stop by to say hello."

[ac-brothers.livejournal.com]

"That was nice of him," Yazoo went to the table and picked up the bottle to inspect it. "Where's Ben?"

[bens-mikey.livejournal.com]

The question catches Michael off guard -- or, more precisely, puts him fully on guard. "At home, finishing the packing for our trip and recovering from our hot sweaty sex last night. We're leaving for Pittsburgh in the morning, to spend the holiday with Hunter."

[ac-brothers.livejournal.com]

"Are you sure it's safe to be out without him?" Yazoo asked. He put the bottle down and turned to face Michael fully, his gaze resting heavily on him. Taking a step forward, his voice dropped to a whisper. "You could get into trouble with the bad element around here."

[bens-mikey.livejournal.com]

Straightening up to his full (if one could call it that) five-foot-eight-inch height, Michael stands his ground as Yazoo steps forward. "I can take care of myself just fine."

[ac-brothers.livejournal.com]

"Can you now?" Yazoo smiled and tossed his hair over a shoulder. "Does Ben believe that?"

[bens-mikey.livejournal.com]

Michael narrowed his eyes. "Of course he does. He knows where I was going, and why. And yet here I am, alone."

[ac-brothers.livejournal.com]

Laughing softly, Yazoo let his fingers slide down the graceful curves of the bottle. "Of course. But," he started to say something, then decided against it. "Of course."

[bens-mikey.livejournal.com]

"But what?" Michael is starting to lose his cool. "Whatever it is, just say it."

[ac-brothers.livejournal.com]

"You say that you can take care of yourself. You say that Ben believes you can as well, which is why..." Yazoo shrugged, his hands waving, "you told him where you were going. Had to ... check in, I guess. And I bet if you aren't home by a certain time, Ben will come looking for you."

[bens-mikey.livejournal.com]

Michael rolls his eyes. "It's called courtesy. I don't suppose you're familiar with the concept. He's my husband, we communicate, and I just happened to mention where I was headed." Michael shakes his head. "Look, I only came here as a favor for my kid, because for some ungodly reason he likes you and thinks you're his friend. I'm not sure what you get out of his company, and I'm not sure I want to know. But whatever you think you're going to get from me, it's not going to happen."

[ac-brothers.livejournal.com]

"Because I'm incapable of having friends, right?"

[bens-mikey.livejournal.com]

"I'm not sure you know what it means to actually be a friend. To give of yourself to someone with no expectations of getting something in return." Michael shakes his head. "Obviously Hunter feels differently, and that's his right, regardless of how I feel."

[ac-brothers.livejournal.com]

"Probably," Yazoo tilted his head and smiled. "Because he gave me a chance." He shrugged and walked around the table before picking up his bottle. "Tell him I'll save it for when he gets here."

[bens-mikey.livejournal.com]

"I will."

Michael sighs. He doesn't know why he gets into these arguments with Yazoo -- he always feels like he's lost, no matter what tact he takes. Michael doesn't hate the man; he simply doesn't trust Yazoo. Or himself, if he were being honest. Now that he's cooling off, Michael berates himself for having let Yazoo get under his skin.

"I hope you and your brothers have a good holiday," he offers with a trace of guilt.

[ac-brothers.livejournal.com]

Looking at Michael through his bangs, "You too." He wasn't going to tell Michael that he and his brothers didn't celebrate the holiday. Michael was not a stupid man, Yazoo knew he would figure it out.

He brushed his hair from his face and neck, turning his attention on the bottle so Michael could make a graceful escape.

[bens-mikey.livejournal.com]

Michael nods, feeling even more out of sorts than he had when he came in. Quietly thoughtful, he heads for the door and walks into the night.