(no subject)

[theboogieman]

Who: Zhas and whoever wants in on this grumpy trainwreck.
Broadcast: None probably.
Action: All day every day.
When: Forward dated to the dust moon because SOMEONE (me) can't be patient.

---

[gunning for the prestigious "first asshole to get irresponsibly drunk as soon as they land" award, there's this guy. he doesn't normally do this kind of thing, but it's been a spectacularly harrowing six months or so. he landed, took one look at this tiny town, and thought, "Nope. Not going to participate."

he has since been working hard to remove himself from the responsibility of being a functioning human being. is this a good idea? of course not. but he has reasons and he has a gnawing evil in his chest, and he'd love for one of them to just shut up for a while.

so, acquaintances will be surprised to find him out in the late evening, dressed up like a normal person and not covered in face paint. his eyes still have kind of a dim orange glow to them, but genetics can't be helped. anyone, friend or stranger, is welcome to find him either:

a. in the process of getting drunk (at the bar, hunched grumpily over his glass of bourbon)
b. getting into a fight (because the other guy... something... doesn't really matter anyway)
c. wandering the town streets (uncoordinated, content, and oblivious to a bad nosebleed)

on the bright side, the ratings he'll get from this will probably pay for his bar tab.]

Comments

b

[openhands]

[Disgusted. Noise.]

[Cassandra doesn't even know why she's surprised to find Zhas not only a mess, but picking a fight with someone else. And she means picking a fight. As rough as everyone on this dusty moon is, they are more than content to leave people be as long as you leave them be. This is clearly not what has happened here.]

[So, the real question is: does she let it go or does she intervene? For the moment, Cassandra waits. As long as it's a somewhat fair fight, she doesn't feel particularly compelled to get Zhas out of whatever trouble he's managed to get himself into. She will just mind her own business with her drink in that case.]

i'm sorry cassandra

[theboogieman]

[he absolutely could have avoided the fight. but he loves antagonizing anyone bigger than he is. he knows too much about menacing people--and after a couple of drinks, he stops using his powers for good and starts using them for stupid.

the fight's pretty short. Zhas gets lifted up, thrown into a table--and then soundly decked in the face the moment he's on his feet again. it'd look bad for him, if he didn't then whip around and punch the guy right in the solar plexus.

he ducks away a second later, out of the gathered crowd. you'd almost think he was having a good time, with the way he shows back up at the bar to get his drink...

and spots Cassandra. and tilts his head, looking a little surprised. ignore that his nose is starting to maybe bleed a little, it's probably nothing.]

[openhands]

Ugh... [Cassandra rolls her eyes at the whole of it. She says nothing about his bloody nose though. If it doesn't bother him, why make a comment?] This is what you decide to do with your free time?

[theboogieman]

[it really is Cassandra. he's not sure why he's so surprised. statistically they had to run into each other again somewhere, but...]

S'my day off.

[it's not. he made that part up. but that's a personal problem. he wipes absently under his nose with the edge of his hand, watching it come back a little red.]

Better than me working, I'd think.

[openhands]

Is it? You seem intent on causing just as much destruction.

[Cassandra seems far less inclined to mince words now that she's not a member of the crew.]

[theboogieman]

[he might not be able to tell the difference. he picks up his drink, saunters over, and plops down in a seat about an arms length away. it would look friendly if he were almost literally anyone else.]

How's the new ship.

[takesss a long pull from his glass.]

[openhands]

[You are gross, Zhas. G r o s s. Cassandra wrinkles her nose a little.]

It's fine. How is the old ship?

[theboogieman]

[gross and irritable, but at least he's behaving.]

New guy's got a thing for decorating with spikes.

[openhands]

...Charming.

[Except not at all. So, she imagines he fits in just fine.]

[theboogieman]

Kinda.

[it really is hard to tell, with that perpetual line face, whether or not he is kidding. or possesses a sense of humor.]

How's the girlfriend.

[openhands]

I can't imagine her well-being is of any interest to you, but it's none of your business either.

[theboogieman]

Didn't deny it. [he raises a finger, like that's actually a point. it falls aimlessly back down on the table.] S'cute.

[openhands]

[Cassandra scowls, rolling her eyes.]

I have no reason to deny it.

[She's not ashamed even if she doesn't appreciate his commentary.]