Caritas- Tuesday

[throughaphase]

Kitty was spending a lot of her downtime on her phone today, but it was actually for work. She figured it might be a good idea to put at least something else in the back room, so she was browsing through some other bars' websites and seeing if there was anything that jumped out at her.

Would people here actually play shuffleboard...?


[Open!]

Comments

[died8yearsago]

"Do I get to be nosy about what you're looking up on your phone?"

Take the mild curiosity as a compliment, Kitty! She would literally not even care a little if it was anyone else!

[throughaphase]

"I'm looking at things I can get for the back room," Kitty said, looking up at her. "What are your thoughts on shuffleboard?"

[died8yearsago]

She just stared at Kitty for a very long moment.

"Do I look like I'm eighty?" asked Rosa Diaz*.


___________
*Emily Goldfinch, meanwhile, was an absolute ace at shuffleboard, thank you.

[throughaphase]

"That was my first reaction but apparently shuffleboard tables show up in bars now," Kitty said.

[died8yearsago]

There was another pause.

"Okay," Rosa allowed, "now I'm picturing drunk people trying to play shuffleboard, and I'm beginning to see the appeal."

[throughaphase]

"Imagine the drink 80-year-olds."

If only they had 80-year-olds.

[died8yearsago]

Now there was a random event weekend that could get some traction!

As it was, the closest was probably Sidon, now that he was in his early hundreds.

Which was also not a visual to shake a stick at.

"That can't be all you've got so far, though."

[throughaphase]

"I keep dismissing things," she said. "In a town this small I don't want to compete with Fast Eddie's for pool or video games. I don't see people doing much with board games outside of a board game night..."

[died8yearsago]

"Pinball machines was the first other thing that came to my mind," Rosa said with a slightly apologetic look.

"And I guess," she ventured, "it would still too competitive if you were to counter the Devil's Nest's axe range with, like....archery, or something."

Congrats, Rosa, for finding something even more dangerous than axe throwing in the hands of drunk people.

But she would kill for more chances to use this icon.

[throughaphase]

"I would have to ask my archer husband what kind of an idea that would be but he also might jump at it," Kitty mused.

[died8yearsago]

"So what you're saying," Rosa ventured thoughtfully, "is that what I really need to do is kiss up to your husband and try to get a two-against-one going. I think I can handle that. What kind of booze does he like? Pizza toppings? Sports teams that I can score front row tickets for?"

[throughaphase]

"If you're trying to tag team me I don't think it's in my best interest to tell you that..." Kitty pointed out.

[died8yearsago]

"It's my job to find out things about people, Kitty," Rosa pointed out. "I was giving you the chance to have me hear it from an honest source first."

[throughaphase]

"...Honestly that's less fun for me," Kitty admitted, grinning.

[died8yearsago]

And how could Rosa do anything but grin back, with maybe even a little wrinkle of her nose.

"Yeah," she agreed, "me, too."

[flamesburned]

Liz did not feel like spending the evening in her apartment alone and she decided that maybe she could try being social …which she hadn’t since New Years and everything that had happened since.

She figured one drink wouldn’t hurt, “um…could I have a beer please?” she asked as she came up to the bar, still feeling rather awkward being somewhere that wasn’t work or her apartment.

[throughaphase]

"Of course," Kitty said, getting one for her and setting it down on the bar. "How's it going?"

[flamesburned]

“Thank you,” she said as she took the beer, “it’s …well I suppose it’s been better than what it has been,” which wasn’t really a high bar to pass considering how things had been lately.

[throughaphase]

"You know, sometimes you just gotta go with that," Kitty said. "Better is good."

She didn't even need to know what was up, she was naturally encouraging.

[flamesburned]

Liz took a sip of her beer and nodded, “I need to be better about remembering that,” she said softly, “it hasn't been the easiest few weeks," she admitted.

[throughaphase]

"Anything you want to talk about?" Kitty asked.

[flamesburned]

Liz hesitated briefly, well maybe if she could find a way to talk about it without getting into the whole childhood trauma part …she’d save that for her therapy sessions. It wouldn’t hurt to talk to someone new about it, “it was …that time loop that we had last month … it well …” she took another drink, “I ...it was bad …I …I accidentally killed Travis and got arrested,” there was a pause, “Travis is still alive,” she said quickly, even though Kitty had most likely already worked that part out, “it was …bad,” she said again, unable to think of any other way to describe what she'd gone through and had been through since.

[throughaphase]

"Still traumatic, even when it gets better," Kitty sad, frowning. She couldn't judge the accidental killing thing.

[flamesburned]

“I’ve been trying to take it one day at a time,” she admitted staring down at her glass, “but I …sometimes sleep doesn’t come easily for me,”

[throughaphase]

"Are you talking to someone about that?" Kitty asked. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."

[flamesburned]

There was another brief hesitation but she nodded, “I …I am seeing Dr. Lecter,” and there was another pause, “and … Prompto - he’s …” and despite it all she still managed to blush faintly when she said his name, “he’s been really great with everything, it’s more …” she stopped and hesitated again, “- he’s been great,” she said again, taking another drink and flushed even more.

[stykera]

Had the vodka drinking last night helped Stark's general outlook on life? No.

But he'd cared a little less, for a little while, and that would have to suffice. So he was wandering into at another bar tonight hoping for similar results, at least.

"What," he said, taking a seat, "do you recommend for keeping yourself from thinking until tomorrow?"

The squirrels would probably share their rum in the morning, if nothing else.

[throughaphase]

"Tequila, if you want real punishment tomorrow," she answered.

[stykera]

"I don't want to feel worse. I just want to... not care."

[throughaphase]

"That bad, huh," Kitty said, frowning. "Maybe something rum-based, umbrella optional?"

[stykera]

"That bad," Stark confirmed, shoulders slumping a little. "Rum is fine. No umbrella needed."

He'd probably just end up shredding it and leaving little umbrella bits all over the bartop.

[throughaphase]

"Do you want to talk about it?" she asked, grabbing some ingredients to start.

[stykera]

"No. Yes. I don't know." Stark was, perhaps, a little conflicted on the subject.

"She left and I didn't know she was going to until it was too late and now... now I don't know."

[throughaphase]

"I'm sorry. It's rough when you feel sideswiped," Kitty said, sympathetic. "Like you have all this hurt on top of wondering what just happened."

[stykera]

"I wish I'd known." It wouldn't have changed the outcome but he could have had some time to make peace with it and that might have made all the difference.

"It hurts."

[throughaphase]

"I'm sorry," Kitty said, stopping what she was doing to lean on the bar. "And I know it's going to sound really hollow now, but that will go away."

[stykera]

"I know. It's...I've been left behind before." Funnily enough that wasn't making this any easier. It was just reminding Stark he hadn't been enough to stay for then, either.

[throughaphase]

"You don't deserve that," Kitty told him. "How have you been handing things?"

[stykera]

"I went to the clinic yesterday. To work," Stark clarified. "Not because of anything. And then the other bar. And I had class today and we just watched TV and now I'm here. So...I don't know."

He'd eaten something earlier today. At some point. That counted for something, maybe.

[throughaphase]

"So you're keeping distracted?" she asked.

[stykera]

"Trying to. There's, there's radio tomorrow." Oh no. He was going to have to face the squirrels. Stark did not want to face the squirrels. "And then Summer will be here. Maybe other people. That's something."

[throughaphase]

"Tomorrow should help," she said, standing up straight so she could finish his drink. "You get as far as Wednesday and go from there."

[stykera]

"I'm trying to...not just hide." Mostly because his apartment felt far too empty right now. It had never been formally shared. But the two had been interchangeable spaces often enough that knowing there was no one else there was going to be painful for some time.

"Even though I want to. So. One thing. And then the next. For now."