spam; the last journal post

[ukan]

[Getting on board was a moment of chaos. He remembers turning a corner, expecting to find fur and blood in his mouth, expecting maybe to get torn up in return, expecting maybe a bullet from above to take him down, too-

But instead he's somewhere metal, somewhere that smells of strangers and strangeness, and he's bleeding a trail but he runs for safety anyway. If there is any. If there are doors, anywhere, that he can open without changing back, because this has to be the FBI's work and so long as they think he's just a wolf, maybe they won't slit him open and poke around inside.]



[ooc: Lark is a wolf, for now. He'll have to change back sooner or later even if he doesn't want to, so feel free to tag him as human or wolf, just lemme know which.]

Comments

[bleak_midwinter]

In my experience, few men start out that way.

[He leans back, waiting patiently while Lark shuffles and deals.]

And I've had my fair share of pisswater. Enough so that I don't drink it when I don't have to.

[ukan]

[He smiles; that's true enough.] I've known a few who did but they were all doing it for religious reasons.

[He deals them their hands, sips his drink, nods to Tommy.

Yeah, he thinks, the man does have a poker face on him.]

[bleak_midwinter]

Religion can inspire a need to drink as much as it can keep you off it. [And when that religion abandons you, there is very rarely any more reason to keep that whiskey locked up.

He plays his hands without a break in the conversation, considering his moves without a single tell. It's clear that this was one of his vices before, and has been for a long time.]

[ukan]

I never had religion. Part of me has always been glad. But then another part of me is fascinated by ritual, and no one loves ritual like a priest, rabbi, or monk.

[He looks up at him, slower in his movements and less sure of his hands (or at least he lets himself seem that way).]

When I said 'bootlegging' before I meant something else. Was there prohibition in your world? Your time?

[bleak_midwinter]

[He smiles a little at Lark's comment, but doesn't choose to elaborate- he's far from comfortable enough with the man to share his own thoughts on religion.]

Yes. In various places, and most recently the United States of America. [He says the name with the sort of amusement people reserve for children's fancies.]

[ukan]

And the War?

[When one talks about either of the World Wars it comes with an almost audible capital letter. So either Tommy's world has had it, or it hasn't, but it'll be clear Lark means something significant when he says it.]

[bleak_midwinter]

Yes. [He says this casually, as he puts down a card, without looking at Lark. He's proud of his service, and it's a presence in his everyday life, but it's not something he has to brag about.]

Though I hear the Germans will come back for more in a few decades.

[ukan]

Mm. With friends.

[He deals him a card to replace it.]

Cards are of the devil; what else offends your sensibilities?

[bleak_midwinter]

Perhaps you should guess, you seem quite fond of doing so. [He shifts his cards to one hand, takes a sip of his whiskey.]

[ukan]

Mm, it's lost its charm.

[bleak_midwinter]

[He smiles a little at that, slow and indulgent.]

Can't abide gambling.

[ukan]

[He doesn't look up from his cards.]

For yourself or everyone else?

[bleak_midwinter]

Hm. [His smile changes to something smaller, private, looking at his cards with some amusement. He'll elaborate if asked, but it seems he won't be offering up all that much himself.]

[ukan]

[Lark sips his drink] Don't be shy now. Simple question, so I know how many invitations to send out.

[bleak_midwinter]

As many as I can handle the business of, Mr. Lark. [He puts down his cards after having raised a few times- a flush, for now.]

[ukan]

[It beats Lark's hand, but he doesn't react to it in the slightest, just takes the cards and reshuffles. After all, they aren't betting anything; this is all to get a read.] I can see that being quite a lot.

[bleak_midwinter]

Can you? Just little old me?

[ukan]

[He smiles and deals out their new hands] Oh that's exactly how I think of you. I bet you've got a smile for every soul you meet.

[bleak_midwinter]

[He licks his fingertip once, so he can shuffle the cards in his hand into the right position.]

Didn't I tell you I was a pillar of the community? Can't do that without giving a few smiles.

[He's exaggerating, now, even through the pretense-- he knows he inspires as much hate as he does love in Small Heat, but if Lark is happy to put him in one of the extremes he can accept that.]

[ukan]

You did. And I could have guessed that. [He isn't even smirking now] It's amazing what you can do when you've perfected a look of innocence.

[bleak_midwinter]

Well, it took me a few years, but I'd say it's paying off, now.

[ukan]

Let's see it.

[Lark is a pretty damn good judge of innocent face, it's practically in his job description.]

[bleak_midwinter]

I was using it all along, Lark. [But he whips it out. Big blue eyes, eyebrows raised, tiny smile, head tilted sideways.

It's not a look he uses very often at all- he has more use of gentle friendliness or a gruff, amused reprimand. He's not a schoolboy anymore, and this isn't a look a grown man needs to use, especially not in his business. Besides, Polly stopped falling for it long ago. But Lark had asked, and this he's fine delivering it on.]

[ukan]

[He grins, mostly at his cards, adjusting them]

Not bad.

[It would be usable in court, at least, even if Lark can smell and hear too much to fall for anyone's looks.]

Do you have a ready expression for anger or does it need to be coaxed?

[bleak_midwinter]

[he relaxes his features back into something more neutral and leans back to look at his hand.]

Oh, you catch more flies with honey.

[And then you kill them. But, you know.]