Caritas, Sunday

[suitably_heroic]

Everything tasted like ketchup.

Atton wouldn't be able to tell you why everything tasted like ketchup, but that was the hand he'd been dealt, and it was the hand he was dealing with.

"Right," he yelled at Tino, after the fifth failed attempt to make a decent cocktail. "Put it on the specials board that everything is Bloody Marys tonight!"

[[ open! ]]

Comments

[notconflicted]

At some point, there was a text.

Remember when I used to come by your room just to annoy you?

Somewhere, a princess was bored. And was trying to be better about being in touch with people.

[suitably_heroic]

That's a long time ago, princess.

Though count Atton surprised. This might have been the first time he'd gotten a casual text from Sia in a long time.

Why? Are you feeling nostalgic?

[notconflicted]

Turns out she'd missed him, who knew.

Guess so. It's absolutely what I would be doing right now. Instead I text.

[suitably_heroic]

So what's so bad you come bother the loser Jedi who still hangs out at his old high school? Atton texted. Asking for a friend, obviously.

[notconflicted]

Not bad, just boring. Finally got off a too-small ship with too many people, and now it's a lot of waiting.

And then, I'm sure your obvious friend isn't a loser but I hope he's not actually hanging out at the school.

[suitably_heroic]

Nah, my friend's at Caritas, trying to make tomato juice work, Atton wrote wryly. Tomato juice with sugar in it. Is the venue better, at least?

[notconflicted]

It's a slight step up. We'll be trying something to make it much better, if all goes well.

She was slightly cynical on that front.

[suitably_heroic]

Building a home, so to speak?

Atton was trying to phrase his answers so she wouldn't have to give up too many details, while still sating his own curiosity.

[notconflicted]

Sia actually really appreciated that.

You could say that. All the time spent working towards it might finally pay off.

[suitably_heroic]

I'm glad to hear it.

Atton... meant it.

He hadn't heard from her in quite a while. It'd been easy to ignore that he missed her; he'd done stuff like that all his life.

It was a lot less easy when she was actually contacting him like this.

I mean, not that I'm invested in whatever crazy thing you're doing over there. Obviously.

[notconflicted]

Of course not. Just like how I don't appreciate all the advice over the years.

She'd considered for a solid minute not hitting send on that one, but... it was true.

Despite the 'I don't care' phrasing they had going on.

[suitably_heroic]

Good. Sounds like we're on equal footing.

Beat.

Be glad you're not here or I'd make you try this latest attempt at a Bloody Mary.

[notconflicted]

Yeah, what's happening there?

What, grateful for the subject change? Nooo.

[suitably_heroic]

Everything I touch turns to ketchup.

Seriously.

[notconflicted]

Wait. Everything?

It was Fandom, she had to check.

[suitably_heroic]

... just fluids in the bar, Atton admitted.

Curse his penchant for hyperbole.

[notconflicted]

That is a much different mental image, thank you for clarification.

And then, I'm sorry, does this mean you're making bloody marys with ketchup??

That might be the first time she'd ever used double punctuation!

[suitably_heroic]

I'm making do with what I've got to work with, all right? I've almost figured out how to kill half the sugar in this stuff.

It was a fine alchemical art, cocktailmaking.

[notconflicted]

I want it on record that nothing would make me try drinking that.

[suitably_heroic]

Well, good thing you're not here then! Though my cocktails are awesome. You know that. Have a little faith.

[notconflicted]

Yes I do. But, ketchup.

[suitably_heroic]

It's all I have to work with! And I'm doing a great job!

Don't you dare question the quality of his work, Sia!

[notconflicted]

I'm sure you are!

Then, Send me video of you trying it.

[suitably_heroic]

I'm hurt by this lack of faith in me, Atton texted her.

Then he grabbed for Experiment #17.

[notconflicted]

I'm simply trying to understand the experience through you.

Because seriously, you could not pay her to do this.