The Perk, Wednesday, 2/02

[tyler_gone]

So here he was. On the island. Teaching about fighting, even.

Tyler felt like he'd done the time warp right back to 2009.

He had some time before he had to catch his portal back to New York, so he went to the Perk to people-watch and feed his caffeine addiction. He was pretty sure the same barista who had always given him a dirty look, gave him a dirty look this time too.

He winked at her and took a window seat.

[OOC: Open post!]

Comments

[tyler_gone]

Tyler narrowed his eyes right back at her. "Don't worry," he said. "I wasn't going to grab one of your lattes."

[boobs-and-bombs.livejournal.com]

Kūkaku snorted. "Swipe 'em for all I care," she said. "They ain't for me; they're for the big guys outside," she hitched her thumb toward the door, where the two towering men were standing, as if keeping guard, "so they're the ones you'd have to answer to not me. They don't play nice, though."

[tyler_gone]

Tyler's head swivelled toward the bodyguards, and he took them in impassively. "I just taught a whole class on not playing nice," he said. "But I think I'll buy my own foufrou drink. Two on one isn't my idea of a good time right now."

[boobs-and-bombs.livejournal.com]

"It's your idea of a good time some other time?" asked Kūkaku, arching an eyebrow coolly to hide the fact that the correct answer to that would, of course, be yes.

[tyler_gone]

"If I'm in fighting form, I don't have a portal to catch, and they don't both look like they could lift me with a finger?" Tyler checked. "Absolutely. I prefer one-on-one, but sometimes you have to mix it up."

[boobs-and-bombs.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, gotta challenge yerself somehow," Kūkaku muttered with another snort, and narrowed her eyes at the guy again. "You teach here? How come I ain't noticed you before?"

Well, granted, she didn't exactly pay attention to most people on the island as it was, but that was beside the point.

[tyler_gone]

Tyler shook his head. "I used to. Put in about two years. I left last May, but somebody invited me back so I came."

Cool story, Tyler.

"You're ... new? New-ish? Can't imagine you getting lost in a crowd, either."

[boobs-and-bombs.livejournal.com]

Kūkaku was going to chalk that comment up to a testament to her obviously imposing personality and take-charge attitude, and pull herself up importantly. "Coupla semesters in," she allowed. "Kūkaku Shiba. Fireworks and demolition expert extraordinaire. Gracin' these poor sods with the education of a lifetime. What'd you teach?"

[tyler_gone]

"Tyler Durden," Tyler said, offering his hand. "I taught blowing shit up before you did. Then I did home ec for a semester. Then history. I liked the science classes best."

"Have you let them make fireworks yet?"

[boobs-and-bombs.livejournal.com]

Kūkaku met the proffered hand with the same hard look at the offerer that she gave whenever a hand was offered. Not having a right arm left you a little irritated with the concept of handshakes.

"In this class?" she then asked. "It's all chemistry, so the explosions have been very open-ended. They do get extra points for makin' 'em pretty, though. Was one of the main topics in the last class, though, and, dear God, I hope my progression doesn't mimic yours. Home ec??"

[tyler_gone]

To be fair, there were other things about her to notice. Tyler grimaced and withdrew his hand, as if he routinely held it in thin air for no reason whatsoever.

He shrugged. "I did it half to weird people out. No regrets. It was less sewing curtains, more keeping it together on your own."

[boobs-and-bombs.livejournal.com]

It was a look that Kūkaku obviously was used to giving.

"So, why'd ya quit?" she asked.

[tyler_gone]

"Because it had been two years," Tyler shrugged. "I felt like I'd done it, time to move on. Odds are I'll end up back here in another year or so."

[boobs-and-bombs.livejournal.com]

"What're ya doing til then?"

[tyler_gone]

"Managing a gym in New York." That was almost sheepish. "I've had an, uh, varied career path."