The Devil's Nest, Monday, January 9, 2023

[texted3times]

Eric did not care where there was a small gaggle of Troopers in the corner bitching about Ab Day as long as they were drinking and paying their tab. He did make sure to parade past shirtless just in case they need a remind why mortals needed to do sit-ups.

He, of course, did not. Reason #489 it was better to be a vampire.

The Devil's Nest was open!

Comments

[sword_chocobro]

Okay, but what if you genuinely actually enjoyed sit-ups?

Because Gladio was, of course, there in all his mortal shirtless glory to either provide a bit of fitspiration for the troopers or (which was more likely the case) just make them feel worse.

And he gave Eric a very approving look-over when leaning into his usual spot at the bar.

"Good to see it's catching on."

[texted3times]

"It's practically tropical outside," Eric said, nodding.

If you were Viking.

[sword_chocobro]

Gladio was momentarily distracted from appreciating his current brother-in-abs as an idle glance around the bar brought the table of troopers to his attention. He couldn't really help the slight expression of disdain, hoping that this wasn't also going to be a regular thing, too.

It was nothing personal. It was just that a dislike of armored, Imperial-like soldiers of dubious origins and questionable aim was deep-seeded for Gladio.

All the more reason to divert more attention toward Eric, really.

"Maybe I'll have a cookout," he threw out, "if it keeps up. How've you been, Eric?"

[texted3times]

"Well," Eric said, stretching in a way to also call attention to his arms like the subtle, modest vampire he was not. "I went back to Louisiana for a few weeks to conduct business and now I've glad to be back here. And you?"

[sword_chocobro]

One thing that Gladio definitely admired about Eric was his modesty, really.

"Well," he echoed, "no immortal assholes managed to break up my friend's wedding this weekend, so we've all got that going for us."

There was a sort of...odd flip side to that, that Gladio was actively avoiding trying to think about too much, so he'd probably just leave it at that.

[texted3times]

"Yay?" Eric replied, looking confused. "Was that what got you stuck the last time?"

[sword_chocobro]

Well, way to hit right on the crux of all those things Gladio was trying (failing) to avoid, Eric.

"Yeah," he huffed out a short laugh. "That's what got us stuck the last time."

And he'd have gladly dealt with Ardyn again a hundred times over if it meant not being stuck again from this side.

His comrades did not share this sentiment on this.

"Thankfully, I guess, Prompto's a pretty far cry away from a Chosen One."

Well. In a Prophetical sense anyway

[texted3times]

"Hopefully you wrote it more diplomatically in the card you left," Eric teased.

[sword_chocobro]

"How's 'congrats, buddy,good job not being the one thing standing between some asshole and the end of the world' sound?" Gladio asked.

[texted3times]

Eric burst out laughing. "It sounds perfect. Do they sell that at T&C?"

[sword_chocobro]

"Honestly?" said Gladio, the laugh managing to pull more of a grin out of him. "Here? I wouldn't be surprised. Can't say I've spent a lot of time in their greeting card section, but I bet their 'sorry you're stuck here' selection is pretty impressive, too."

[texted3times]

Eric nodded. "And their 'sorry I tried to murder you last weekend' ones. I've never bought any." He smirked. "I'm never sorry if I tried to murder someone."

[sword_chocobro]

"You seem the kind of guy," said Gladio, "that, when you set your mind to murder someone, there's not a whole lot of trying involved.

"Have you tried to murder anyone here, though?"

That seemed like very good knowledge to have if he had.

[texted3times]

"Does Lucifer count?" Eric asked, thinking about it. "Because I was only half trying."

[sword_chocobro]

"I think that means it half counts," Gladio reasoned. "Although it could depend on how you were trying to do it..."

Again, could be useful information.

[texted3times]

"Can you irritate a person to death?" Eric asked, grinning.

[sword_chocobro]

"I don't think so." Gladio's grin was faintly apologetic. "But that's not the kind of thing I'd be willing to test and verify, either, though."

[texted3times]

Eric laughed. "As the irritator or irritatee?"