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Midgar, Sector 7 Slums… Described as an unpleasant place at best. This was the place the Shin-Ra Electric Power Company had almost forgotten about - left to fend for them selves underneath the plate, hidden away from sunlight. Nero once lived here for a while, alone and without a home. He spent a lot of his childhood that way. Perhaps that was why he was so anti-social and even cold at times.
It was late in the evening and pitch black outside with a bitter breeze whistling past. Only a lone figure wandered through the area at this time. A man that seemed to blend into the darkness with his black leather trench coat, zipped closed and the hood up over his head. That was Nero. The same Nero that grew up here and used to be afraid of the dark. Though, in a place like this, it was understandable. It wasn’t the dark itself that he feared, but the unsavoury characters that lurked within it; whether they are thieves, murderers or savage monsters. Though, he was no longer that scared little boy. In fact, he was more suited to the unsavoury character role now.
Nero paced through the Slums with his head down, walking quickly but quietly. He was hoping to avoid any sort of contact with locals… At first. But when he saw a bar, 7th Heaven, not too far ahead, he threw that plan out. He could do with a drink. It had been some time since he sat down to relax. Nero was too busy seeking out powerful monsters or so-called ‘Heroes’ to test his strength against. Maybe this was just what he needed? He stopped in his tracks, looking around a bit as he thought about it for a second. Hopefully only a few drunks would be left in there this late and not be too full of people. He considered just moving on and finding a place to sleep for the night, but he just couldn’t resist a beer.
Then it was decided. Nero marched over to the door and shoved it open with no concern for anyone that could have been stood on the other side. It swung open and closed behind him as he walked straight over to the bar and slumped down on one of the seats beside it. He kept his hood up even now that he was indoors, keeping his face shadowed as he faced away from the bar tender. He didn’t even bother to say ‘hello’ or even look at them. Nero simply dug into his pocket before dropping a few gil on the bar;
“Just a beer.”
He said in a fairly deep voice. No ‘please’ or ‘thank you’. Straight to the point and without manners. Nero wasn’t much for chatting, anyone could see that...
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It had been a busy day and Tifa had her work cut out for her in cleaning up the place. It was a mess everywhere, but right now she was focused on wiping down the bar, getting rid of the spills and crumbs that were on it. It had been one of those days when the place was so full of people that Tifa hadn't been able to keep an eye out. She was only one girl after all. As always she kept the bar open while she cleaned. The busy period was over and at this time it was only ever a few people looking for a drink before bed. Most people would close up to clean, but Tifa didn't because why turn away potential customers when she was still working in the bar? It didn't make sense to her and so she just kept it open. They'd just have to put up with her cleaning around them while they drank. She doubted they'd care. Those drinking at this hour tended to keep to themselves mostly.
Right now the place was empty. That was fine by Tifa though, considering all the tables were messy at the moment. Not to mention the floor. Tifa let out a sigh, she was probably going to be up for another couple of hours trying to clean this place up. It was times like this it would help to have an assistant or something, but Tifa couldn't afford help. All of her money went to keeping the place stocked and anything left was used to pay any bills and whatnot that needed it. The advantage to owning a bar in the slums was there were plenty of depressed people who came in to drown their problems. Not the best way to handle things, but it was good for business. Today had been more of a party though, then the usual 'fight the depression' times that were usually the theme. Despite the mess, it had been a good time and everyone went home happy. Tifa liked when they went home happy, it made everything worth it. Tifa looked down at the bar top, that was now shiny-clean. She smiled and then prepared herself to clean the rest of the place, when someone walked through the door.
The man that entered was very dark looking, wearing dark clothing and keeping his face hidden. Certainly seem the normal sort Tifa expected at this hour. A customer was a customer though and she didn't turn people away because of their appearance. She only turned people away if they were misbehaving. She doubted this man would be a problem though, he seemed the type to keep to himself. Tifa watched as he walked up to the bar and took a seat. At least he didn't go for a table, she still needed to clean those. The man sat and Tifa threw the rag she was using to clean the bar top on it's now clean surface. She took a step toward him and was about to ask what she could get him when he preemptively answered the question for her.
“Just a beer.”
"Coming up." she replied. Tifa was used to the lack of social graces, a lot of people chose not to use them here. It didn't bother her, it came with the profession. If you couldn't accept being ordered around and called things like "Excuse me" and "Hey, you" then this wasn't the job for you. Sure it got annoying every once and a while, but Tifa never dwelled on it. And today had been a good day, so she was in a pretty good mood, despite the mess, so it wouldn't bother her tonight. Opening the fridge, Tifa pulled out a moderately priced beer. It was the usual one she gave to those that just asked for "a beer". Those people didn't tend to care to much about what it was, so Tifa picked the one that would taste alright and get her a bit more money then the cheap stuff. It was less then her best brand though, so she wasn't being to forceful, like most bartenders probably would. They'd go for the high priced to take advantage of the lack of specifics, but Tifa didn't like doing that.
She closed the fridge again and grabbed the bottle opener from under the bar. She placed it around the cap and pushed the handle down, taking the cap off it's place with a small hiss. The cap went in the trash and the opener back to it's spot under the bar. She then walked over to the man and placed the drink in front of him. She gave him a smile, though she wasn't sure he was paying much attention to her. Didn't mean she wasn't going to be friendly though, she always tried to run the friendliest place she could. There was certainly no reason to be rude, she preferred to take care of her customers.
"There you are. One beer." she told him. Then figuring she should continue the friendliness, despite his seeming lack of interest, she added, "You're out pretty late tonight. Just arrive here or did you have some late errands to run?"
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(OOC: Sorry it took so long, I had some computer trouble >.<)
With him facing away from the bar tender, that left Nero gazing at the place. It was pretty dirty, to be honest, what savages had been in here? Though, it was much better than the rest of the Slums. But that’s the thing; were here. The place was left completely empty. Not another customer in sight. Nero knew it was late, but seriously, not a single person left? Well, he didn’t like crowds, but this was a bit much. He was hoping for not many customers, but this was just going too far. In fact, it left him at the other end of the scale, so to speak. Since there was no one else here, the bar tender’s attention was solely on him; he now couldn’t just fade into the background like he usually would… Great.
And this bar tender, what was up with her? Why would she feel the need to be so polite to him after Nero had addressed her without any sense of respect? Weird, but he just shrugged it off. He didn’t really like the sort of people who are nice to everyone. There often was no need to. Why be nice to someone who will disappoint you in the end? That was what he thought of it anyway. Maybe he was wrong, but in his experience, people always let you down.
"There you are. One beer."
Nero turned his head a little as she spoke this time so that his face was side on with hers. He peeked past the edge of his hood at the woman. This way, he could see her, but she couldn’t see inside his hood at him. Well, she wasn’t what he was expecting in the slightest. Though, he wasn’t even expecting a female bar tender when he walked in. He couldn’t deny her beauty – she was a pretty lady. Nero could now see why this place was so popular. All the drunks would have something to look at, until they passed out at least.
But Nero wasn’t particularly interested in that, his gaze drifted to the drink she had placed down before him. With a swing of his arm, he grabbed the bottle as his hand swiped across. He spilt a bit of his drink with the careless motion, but seemed not to have noticed. Or, perhaps he just didn’t care. Nero pulled the beer directly in front of him so that he could look at the label without moving his head. He didn’t recognise the brand, but the smell of it seemed okay. It would taste better the more he drank anyway. Without more delay, the hooded man leaned his head back as he brought the bottle to his lips and took a few large gulps of it before he slammed it back down on the bar.
"You're out pretty late tonight. Just arrive here or did you have some late errands to run?"
He paused for a second, not sure what to say. Would Nero tell her the truth, or just make something up? Don’t misunderstand, it wasn’t like he was doing anything horrific, but what was it to do with her? And, what would Nero gain from telling her...? Meh, maybe he was just thinking too much…
”Been here a while. Just visiting. I lived here for a short time.”
Nero replied, keeping everything he had to say to short sentences. Each and every one of them as short as he could get them and getting to the point promptly. He couldn’t help but assume that more questions would follow this one…
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( Post Word Count: 614 ) ( Thread Word Count: 1088 )
Post by Tifa Lockhart on Sept 23, 2009 5:29:56 GMT
This man was definitely not the talking type. He continued to keep himself hidden and avoided looking at Tifa. It was to be expected really, or at least Tifa should have expected it. People didn't come to a bar in the wee hours of the morning to talk. They just wanted to get drunk so they could sleep easier. Let the alcohol take over their minds and shut it down, one thought at a time until they are unconscious and blissfully no longer aware of the troubles of their lives. It was a temporary release, but one quite a few welcomed openly, especially in the slums of Midgar, where those under the oppression of Shinra struggled endlessly to attempt to earn a few gil. Tifa saw it constantly in her bar that played to this illusion with it's name '7th Heaven', which she didn't give it. This was one of the reasons she fought so hard against Shinra, to try to bring some real light to these people's lives for once, not the false hope they found at the bottom of a bottle.
The stranger turned slightly toward Tifa when she put the beer down in front of him and, though she couldn't really see him, she knew he could see her. She just had that feeling she was being watched. Tifa offered another smile to him as he did, she still wanted to seem welcoming. Even if he didn't talk, if he felt comfortable and at home, at least enough to relax a bit, then she'd be happy. She preferred it when people left happy and always attempted to make sure people did. If someone came in depressed, Tifa tried to cheer them up so they didn't simply drown their problems for temporary relief. Some might say she'd lose business that way, but she didn't really care. Though, she felt she actually got more business this way, since people seemed to keep coming back. The positive attitude of the place was contagious and therapeutic in Tifa's opinion and her regular customers were friendly and weren't afraid to help cheer someone up. Sometimes the people seemed more like family then strangers in a bar. Tifa enjoyed that.
The man snatched at the beer like he was afraid it was going to run away if he didn't get at it fast enough and spilled some on the counter top. Tifa glanced down at the spill on her freshly cleaned bar top and sighed inwardly, though maintained her friendly demeanor outwardly. It wasn't a big deal, but with the work she had to do tonight, every little bit seemed like a lot more. Oh well, she'd get that bit after he was done, no point in disturbing him over a few drips. Besides, she had a whole bar to clean up still. She needed to give the place a good wipe down so nothing dried up and needed even more effort to clean. The place would have it's full clean up tomorrow morning before she opened up at noon for lunch.
The man gave a short response to Tifa's question, and didn't actually answer it either. He seemed to be deflecting so he didn't have to answer properly. Tifa was curious as to why he was out so late, but didn't ask further or comment that he had not answered the question. She wasn't going to pry and he clearly wasn't going to sate her idle curiosity. She let the matter drop, sometimes people just didn't want to share. She'd had plenty of people in here before like that, but she was sometimes able to get them to open up a bit once they knew she was being friendly and they were more comfortable. Also helped once they had a few drinks in them too. Tifa left the 'why are you out so late' subject and decided to see how he'd react to a different subject.
"Oh? Where are you living now?" Tifa asked the man. She didn't get many travelers in here that's for sure. Most of them usually stuck to the bars up on the plate. There you could get much better quality drinks then Tifa could afford for her little place and everything was just nicer looking. Tifa did the best she could with her place, but her best was limited while she lived in the sums. It was certainly cheaper here, but anyone up on the plate or just visiting tended to have the money to stay on the plate. Perhaps this man used to come to this bar, or lived in the sector seven slums, when he lived here before, that would explain it. Tifa hadn't been here that long, so it was a possibility that was the case. He could be here to reminisce. There weren't many other reasons Tifa could think of to come to the slums, it certainly wasn't a place for tourists. She made a note to ask him if he opened up to her more.
And there it was: the continuation. Just like he thought, more questions following the first. It wasn’t surprising. Nero could see that she was just trying to be nice, but he could see it get quite annoying after a while. Maybe if he drank enough he would keep himself from getting into an irritated state. With that thought in mind, the solitary individual downed the rest of his drink in a few quick gulps. Nero then let out a refreshed sigh as he put the near-empty bottle back down on the counter.
”I don’t have a home anymore; I just travel. Seeking strength and power mostly.”
He replied, choosing to answer the question directly this time. With honesty too, which was a scarcity with Nero. Was Tifa actually getting through to him? Well, it helped that she continued to show him politeness even after he was so rude; normally, people seemed to get annoyed with Nero’s attitude after his first response and thing usually escalated into an argument or they left him to himself. But not Tifa… Maybe it was just because she was working, or maybe she was genuinely just that nice. Either way, Nero just got a sense of familiarity from her, like he knew her. It escaped his mind that she was a girl he remembered from his early childhood, growing up in Nibelheim as a young child. They never actually met, but Nero saw her out playing with the other kids from his window.
”I’ll have another of those…”
Nero stated, obviously referring to the beer he just finished off. It may not be the last one that he planned to have, but he wasn’t going to have many more; he didn’t want to get himself drunk. Being drunk was just a weakness. Nero was used to keeping his guard up at all times; you never know when danger is around. But in a quiet place like this, perhaps he could relax for once. Although this bar wasn’t exactly the most visually appealing place in the world, it gave a calm atmosphere. Reaching round to the back of his head, he grabbed the back of his hood and gently pulled it back so that it fell back to reveal his snow white hair. He ran his fingers through it as he leaned his head back, sorting it out as it looked a bit weird after being under the hood for a while.
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Selle whistled himself a merry tune as he walked in his stately pace towards the entrance to the bar. After all, why wouldn't he be happy? The Seventh Heaven was his favorite place to spend his time, even his late night hours, if it was still open. Which, conveniently, he noticed with a renewed spring in his step, it was! So, before Selle just barged in through the door, he took some time to examine himself in the reflection of a nearby window. He smoothed the creases from his semi-faded pinstripe suit, dusted off the top of his distinctive bowler hat, re-cleaned his round shades, and did his level best to comb through his wispy hair with his fingers. Once he saw that everything was prim and proper, or at least as proper as you could manage down here, Selle renewed his swagger and entered the establishment.
Well, this was indeed bittersweet. The entire room was practically empty! For the negatives, that meant no poor suckers to pawn out of their Gil in a flashy card game. And the one man who was there didn't seem to Selle like the gambling type, in any case. In fact, the man looked like a very down-to-earth, practical type of man, who would probably never take a risk in his whole life.
In other words, boring as a nun, Selle thought.
However, the relative lack of disruptive influences meant that he would have quite a bit of opportunity to flirt with the attractive bar hostess, Tifa. And there she was, right behind the counter already, trying to make small talk with the cloaked man. It seemed an almost one-sided conversation, from what words Selle could overhear. The man was a complete wall, giving terse, short answers and focusing more on his beer than on any attempts to open up on his social life. Selle thought it a shame. If it were him that was being questioned, he would no doubt have told Tifa everything his mind could rattle off. But, he thought wistfully, such fortuitous circumstances for me are only likely to come around once in a lifetime. Though he tried to make his attraction to her as evident as possible every time he saw her, Tifa treated their relationship just like an older sister berating her immature brother. No matter how hard he tried, Selle just couldn't break down that wall, not with his rapier wit and flashy gimmicks alone. The only way to get her on his side, he reasoned, would probably be to trick her, but he would never stoop so low. Even with all his faults, the gambler still kept a level of dignity and honor to his character which he constantly prided himself on.
But, if at first you don't succeed, he thought, keep at it until they break down from annoyance. Despite his outward displays, Selle truly felt quite a bit of affection for the woman. It was just hard sometimes for him that she never treated what they had with the same kind of reverence he did. Maybe, one day, he would come clean about his feelings for her. But, he was in posession of a gambler's creed: Live for the moment. And the little chess game that the two waged was simply too fun and consuming for him to give up on right away, especially in the face of possible rejection. So, for now, he would continue with his routine, in the vain hope that it might be enough to sway her to his line of thinking.
So, when he waltzed in and sat down on a stool in the front, Selle simply gave Tifa a sly grin, saying, "Well, Ms. Lockhart, you are truly looking simply radient this evening! What have you done to yourself that brings out such beauty and passionate grace? A new perfume, maybe?" He saw that his come-ons, as inventive as they may have been, we not getting him anywhere, so, feeling a bit deflated, he simply added, "I'll have the cranberry juice, please." He took out his grandpa's lucky coin and amused himself by flipping it dexteriously between his fingers, keeping the other, dark man in his gaze.
Well, it still wasn't much, but the man did seem to be opening up a bit more. At least he took off his hood. Perhaps he wasn't so bad, just a bit shy maybe. Tifa was happy he was at least starting to relax slightly, which was good. Getting people to relax was the whole point after all. Tifa wondered about his answer though. Strength and power? What did that even really mean in the first place? Zangan had taught Tifa that these things came from within a person and could only truly be found there, only weapons could be found outside yourself and they were not true strengths or power. They were just accessories. Was this man perhaps, in fact, on a journey to find himself?
"Interesting things to be seeking," Tifa told him as she grabbed the empty bottle, tossed it in the disposal bin and headed to the fridge to grab the man another, "Both a very real thing, yet neither something you can really find out there." she added. She got his beer, closed the fridge, then walked back over to the man, sliding him the beer over the counter. Before she could say more on the matter or the man could respond, someone new entered the bar and joined them. Tifa recognized the man, his name was Selle and he was a regular at the bar. He liked to play card games with the other patrons and gamble with them. He also liked making advancing comments to Tifa. Tifa tended to just brush them off as nicely as she could. He was, by far, not the only guy that flirted with her in here, it happened on a daily basis. Came with the territory really, you couldn't be female and run a bar and not be hit on. Being surrounded by so many drunks, many who were a bit depressed, tended to lead to such things. Tifa always just brushed it off, so long as they didn't cross the line that is. If that happened, she throw you out on your head faster then you could say 'sexual harassment'.
Selle hadn't ever crossed that line though, He was generally a nice guy and usually just through out a comment here and there. It certainly didn't bother Tifa at all, so she let it go. Selle entered as per usual, with flirtatious comments and lies about how she was looking and smelling. She gave the man a disbelieving smirk with a raised eyebrow.
"I think the only perfume I have left on me after today is alcohol and surface cleaner." she retorted, "But thanks anyway." She turned to the fridge and pulled out Selle's order of a cranberry juice then placed it in front of him. "You're out pretty late tonight, Selle. You won't find much action here, everyone's already been and left for today. I'm just cleaning up now and talking to my friend here." she told him with a nod to the stranger. She gave the quieter man a smile to let him know she hadn't forgotten him over there with the arrival of one of her regulars. He had just started relaxing, Tifa didn't want him tensing up again. She was also still curious about what he was really seeking.
”Don’t be so sure. Maybe a lot of a man’s strength is from the inside. But, think of it this way, two men of equal strength meet on the battlefield… The one with an army of powerful summons and a weapon of unimaginable magical power will win every time. ”
Nero said in reply to Tifa’s comments as he took his second drink. This time, he just took a few sips rather than downing it in a few gulps like the last time.
It was then that the new arrival came and sat down beside him. With Selle neglecting to say anything to him, Nero did the same. Though, he wasn’t exactly complaining, this man didn’t really seem the sort that Nero would hang around with. But who was? He just kept out of the way, keeping to himself with the occasional mouthful of beer.
"I'll have the cranberry juice, please."
Nero couldn’t help but let out a small laugh when he heard that, who comes to a bar late at night for cranberry juice? What a joke. It was clear that he wasn’t here for the bar, but the bartender. He quite clearly had an attraction towards Tifa, and he didn’t even try to hide it. But his attempts to flirt with her were quite amusing to watch as she blatantly had no interest in him.
“I'm just cleaning up now and talking to my friend here."
Friend? Well, Nero didn’t consider them friends, but whatever. He simply nodded his head in acknowledgement as Tifa introduced him but didn’t feel the need to say anything. Nero simply glared at him for a second, before his eyes blinked back to his drink.
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( ooc: Sorry for the lame post, lacking inspiration right now… )
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Vale pushed through the door of the Seventh Heaven, his crimson colored cloak fluttering in the night air behind him. He plopped exhaustedly into the barstool one seat away from a man wearing a black trench coat, completely worn out from today's training in the volunteer army. As he sat down, the man said something to the barkeep.
”Don’t be so sure. Maybe a lot of a man’s strength is from the inside. But, think of it this way, two men of equal strength meet on the battlefield… The one with an army of powerful summons and a weapon of unimaginable magical power will win every time. ”
The Lucavi, having not heard the conversation beforehand, had no idea where this came from- but still felt compelled to give his own two-cents worth. " "True- but if one relies too much on magical power he can put himself in mortal danger. While a powerful summon or magical weapon might win you a single battle- you may end up paying for it in the long run if you are past your limits. Not to mention the whole making a contract with said summon thing or having to find/make said magical weapon." He grinned good-naturedly and offered a hand to the strange man. "I should know, after all- what with being a professional mage and all. My name's Vale, by the way."
Vale leaned forward and gathered his cloak around his shoulders (to everyone else, it looked like he was simply trying to warm up- but in reality he was concealing his wings) before turning to the barkeep and briefly looked her over. She was an attractive young woman who didn't appear to be too much older than himself- which meant she probably shouldn't have been handling alcoholic beverages. Vale smirked a little, recalling that he probably shouldn't even be there at his age himself- though alcohol hardly impaired Lucavi in comparison to humans. "I'll have a White Russian, please- whole milk instead of half-and-half though, if you have it." He rested his elbows on the bar and placed his hands underneath his chin, thinking.
Summons, huh...? He glanced at the man next to him again, studying him. Never really thought of using those before... He sighed and sat back up in his chair, turning entirely to the man again, an embarrassed frown filling his features. "You wouldn't eh... Happen to know where to find a summon or two- would you?"
Word Count: 447
((Note- none of you should notice that Vale is a demon unless you're used to their aura or something... He hides his race pretty well))
Selle merely shrugged as Tifa brushed him off, albeit politely, and took a quick sip of his drink. Then he heard the snicker from the other, darker man beside him. Rather than casting a dark look of his own, Selle merely ignored him. He had been quite a drinker back when he was a dealer in the Gold Saucer, but had long since learned the lesson that alcohol could dull the mind and the perceptions, thus deadening the body. The gambler never had a drop since. But he didn't oppose his victims... er, colleagues indulging themselves. After all, it made his job of emptying their pockets on the card table much easier. But in any case, the white-haired man, while being rude, also seemed to be posessed of incredible strength, if the hilt of the sword on his back was anything to go by. Selle was alot of things, but never brash. He chose his battles very carefully, and survived on his wits rather than his brawn. Let the blockheaded albino give his dirty looks. It beat the alternative of watching your body being cut in half.
And then, after Tifa had "introduced" her new friend, the man gave a quick glare Selle's way with those glowing blue eyes. Strange... they looked slightly brighter, as if glowing with an alien light. Mako energy. This man was trained by SOLDIER, there was no doubt. That fact alone made him a little more intimidating to Selle, but the gambler pushed his fretting aside. Nowadays, it seemed that there were far too many demi-gods running around Gaia, making existence for the mere mortals a little harder. But, while the brutes had their pompous, Adonis-like physique and mysterious magical abilities, Selle liked to think that he was more quick-witted and canny, like a fox against a hunter. The man may have the gun, and if he caught the fox, he would most surely kill the little animal. But first, he had to catch the fox. All Selle needed to do was think ahead and always have an escape plan, and he would never die by their hands. But, when the dark warrior glared at him, the gambler couldn't help but think:
Alright, darling, no need to get your knickers in a bunch on my account.
Just then, another man walked in. This one was at least a little more talkative than the mako-enhanced wall, giving his thoughts onto the conversation about seeking power and the like. Personally, Selle couldn't care less about obtaining ultimate power. He was a guy of simple tastes: cards, Gil, and good-looking women. As previously stated, he survived and coasted through life by his wits. If power was all you ever sought, then what would be the point of your existence? Just to keep killing and slaughtering people until some other misguided pea-brain with a similar power-lust comes along and kills you for it? He may have been wrong, but to Selle, that seemed like a pretty empty life. He would much rather spend his life living with someone else, rather than being the best, only to live alone with his colossal strength, with death as his only companion and final friend to greet him in the end.
But then came the topic of summons, brought up by this new chap, who introduced himself as Vale. That drew Selle's attention somewhat. He may not have been interested in power, but the information of summons themselves was just too valuable to pass up. He found himself split over eavesdropping on the conversation, or leaving the two blokes to their power-quests and continue to flirt with Tifa. The gambler, as usual when he couldn't come to a satisfactory conclusion, decided to flip for it. Heads, he'd turn his attention back to Ms. Lockhart and his drink. Tails, he'd only pretend to, while listening to all he could. The coin flew up with a dull ring, flipping end over mythril-ridged end, landed in Selle's brown-gloved hand, and came up... tails.
Ah, well, he thought wistfully as he looked over to Tifa, it looks like you'll have to suffer through my silence tonight, love. With that, he turned to his cranberry juice, but kept an ear trained to the conversation commencing on the other end of the table.
Word Count: 759
Word Total: 1495
((ooc: Okay, guys, I would like for you two to not notice that Selle's noticing. Just please carry on like he isn't there. I would appreciate it, thanks.))
((Ah- sorry about that, Harlequin/Selle/Whatever you want to be called. I was considering starting up a conversation with you... but Vale is a bit more interested in getting more powerful than making friends- although he isn't opposed to that option XD And he only heard Nero's conversation- unless I missed something and Nero had said that in the middle of another conversation.))
The hooded man gave his own opinion on the subject, and Tifa was unsurprised to find herself disagreeing with his statement. Another person walked into as he spoke and decided to add his own opinion to the conversation. Tifa agreed with him, accept when he said true to quiet man's statement. The problem she had with the statement is that, while true in theory, people were never even like that. Everyone was different in someway or another. People could be similar, sure, but they would still have differences that separated them and because of that, a person could still be bested, magic and summons or not.
Tifa looked over the new comer, he was definitely too young to be here. Tifa could just tell by looking at him, you picked up an eye for these things. Lucky for him, she didn't care too much for Midgar, and therefore Shinra's, law, just as much as they didn't care about who had a drink in the slums. He looked old enough to know what he was doing at least, not a child or anything, so Tifa would let him have a drink. She just wouldn't let him drink himself stupid. He'd be allowed one, maybe two based on her assessment.
So when he ordered a White Russian from her, she simply smiled and said, "Sure thing." Vale went on with the subject of summons. Tifa didn't know anything about summoning magic, or most magic in general for that matter. She had been trained to rely solely on herself in a fight. It was why she believed that it was all so pointless. She could take on the best of them with only herself. Weapons could be lost, Magic power could be drained and once it was gone, what was left? For Tifa, no matter what, she was always at her best.
For now however, she was more focused on the other thing she was good at. Making drinks. She turned to her selves and gathered what she needed. First, an old-fashioned glass. She put it under the dispenser of her ice machine and allowed some ice to drop into the transparent container, filling it. She then grabbed a bottle of vodka and coffee liquor from the under the bar. Tifa had been doing this for a while and was quite used to pouring in the proper amount so she forwent the measuring cup. It would look so unprofessional if she had to pull out that stuff, so Tifa had taught herself to know the general amount that was needed when simply pouring. She put the vodka in first, because the coffee liquor was heavier and they would mix when she added the former to the drink. When she was satisfied with the amount of vodka, she poured in the coffee liquor to the point she needed. Next, she got the milk out of the fridge and poured some into the glass and watched the liquid become a dirtied white color. She made a couple of stirs with a stirrer, and then placed it in front of Vale.
"Your White Russian." she said, giving him another friendly smile, and then she headed around to clean up a table. She had nothing to add to this conversation, she was clueless about it and she did have to continue cleaning the place before she closed tonight. She did notice though, that Selle had fallen oddly quiet. He did sometimes, but he had even halted his flirting pretty suddenly. Tifa payed it no mind though, he was allowed to keep to himself if he wanted. The only thing about it though, is that Tifa felt if he wasn't talking, he was planning something.
Another late-night drinker made his arrival, a dark-haired teenager in a crimson cloak. Nero took a quick glance at him as he dropped down on a stool beside him. Really, why were there so many people coming in to a bar this late at night? Oh well, whatever the reason, Nero was too comfy to leave just on the account of a slight uneasiness with groups of people. Besides, the conversation had turned to a subject he knew quite a bit about – Power, Summons and Magical Power. Nero listened to the new arrival’s thoughts and ideas on the subject, even though he did interrupt the conversation half way through. Some would consider that ‘rude’ but, to be fair, Nero would have done the same thing, so chose to ignore that fact.
With Vale offering his hand to Nero, supposedly for a greeting handshake, he didn’t even let go of his drink. Nero looked down at his hand, then his gaze drew back up to look him in the eyes;
“Nero.”
He stated bluntly, rejecting Vale’s handshake, but introducing himself… To an extent. Nero then took a small swig of his drink again as he let his mind wander. Vale raised a good point; where would you find a weapon of great magical power? That was what Nero needed to find out; after all, that was a part of his quest for supreme Power. Sure, he could find Summons, they were much easier, and he could develop his magical powers… but weapons? He hadn’t even got a hint on that so far.
"You wouldn't eh... Happen to know where to find a summon or two- would you?"
Nero was suddenly brought back into the room from his thoughts with that question. He turned his head back to the teen, with a small smirk on his face. He knew where a lot of Summons could be found, but what made Vale think that Nero would give up that valuable information?
“I might, but information is power, and power doesn’t come for free… As soon as you have something to offer, I’ll tell you some of what I know…”
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