He sneered at the women.
"Hello." His greeting was sarcastic at best.
"I'm going back to my booth. You two do what you want."
With that he turned and walked away from the flake and her redheaded friend Miya. There was a small nagging at the back of his mind that he dismissed promptly.
(ooc : Panos out)
Apathy Kills
Jan strolled past the bouncer at the underground entrance and paused to take a look around. Same old place, The HoP, a few new faces perhaps, but the vibe was certainly the same.
He smiled, or something very close to it, and made his way towards important item number one. Asking for a red wine, the Tacharan turned and leaned against the bar and glanced around the place looking for important item number two.
Entertainment, good, bad, legal or illegal. Jan wasn't feeling very picky.
Panos Mehalitsenos
15 years ago
Valentine
15 years ago
It really was not the smartest thing she’d ever done, Val knew it and accepted it and counted on her own little gifts to get her out of this mess without a broken back; because that would be hard to explain.
All she could think as she dug her single heel in even more so was ‘Save a horse ride a cowboy!’ And that thought went clean out of her head as she was squashed into the bar. Sure she’d known it was coming, but it still hurt. Not that she was complaining mind you.
In retaliation she clung even tighter to her ride tightening her grip on his throat digging her nails into his neck. Another smashing mistake as she was now flat on her back under the big lug. Val heard something crack as they landed and he half knocked the wind out of her but she’d had worse.
Laying there she rubbed her head, that might have been the crack she heard, for a second before starting to shove, rather in effectively, at the man/mountain.
“Get off!”
Oh look a hand, that was more like it one of these gents had manner. She completely overlooked the fact that she had certainly –not- behaved like a lady.
She flashed a grin, which was a bit wider than she should have, at the kid who’d caught her as she accepted the hand slithered out from under her ride, and found her feet, still wobbling a bit without her heel.
“Much obliged. New date? Well the drink is going to have to be a double after that fall.”
Best guess was the big guy, the Jap who was still standing more specifically, was the old date. Not a bad choice either.
“Screw it I’ll buy for both of you as I crashed the party.”
She’d taken a second or three to figure out where the bitch was and decide he wasn’t going to cause any more trouble and the other one seemed to mean it when he said he’d stay down. Not that Val was going to let either of them get the better of her again.
All things considered though she was feeling quite chipper, that had been good clean fun; even if she had lost her blond muscle boy in the course of things.
All she could think as she dug her single heel in even more so was ‘Save a horse ride a cowboy!’ And that thought went clean out of her head as she was squashed into the bar. Sure she’d known it was coming, but it still hurt. Not that she was complaining mind you.
In retaliation she clung even tighter to her ride tightening her grip on his throat digging her nails into his neck. Another smashing mistake as she was now flat on her back under the big lug. Val heard something crack as they landed and he half knocked the wind out of her but she’d had worse.
Laying there she rubbed her head, that might have been the crack she heard, for a second before starting to shove, rather in effectively, at the man/mountain.
“Get off!”
Oh look a hand, that was more like it one of these gents had manner. She completely overlooked the fact that she had certainly –not- behaved like a lady.
She flashed a grin, which was a bit wider than she should have, at the kid who’d caught her as she accepted the hand slithered out from under her ride, and found her feet, still wobbling a bit without her heel.
“Much obliged. New date? Well the drink is going to have to be a double after that fall.”
Best guess was the big guy, the Jap who was still standing more specifically, was the old date. Not a bad choice either.
“Screw it I’ll buy for both of you as I crashed the party.”
She’d taken a second or three to figure out where the bitch was and decide he wasn’t going to cause any more trouble and the other one seemed to mean it when he said he’d stay down. Not that Val was going to let either of them get the better of her again.
All things considered though she was feeling quite chipper, that had been good clean fun; even if she had lost her blond muscle boy in the course of things.
Delilah
15 years ago
With a frantic look at Pauly as he walked away Delilah turned to Miya.
"Would you mind following after him with me?" It was almost a plea and very unlike herself.
Hoping Miya would come she spun around and went looking for Pauly's booth.
(ooc : Delilah out after Panos)
"Would you mind following after him with me?" It was almost a plea and very unlike herself.
Hoping Miya would come she spun around and went looking for Pauly's booth.
(ooc : Delilah out after Panos)
Stranger
15 years ago
Red, recovering from a vicious two-fingered throat punch, coughed and stared at the punk kid when he pulled Red aside and said he was going to try to stop the fight. Watching Rock up against the whirling Asian, he felt no small measure of fear. Rock was a damn good fighter. Red couldn't remember the last time he'd seen anyone even land a punch on him, and this guy was knocking him all over the place.
Gasping to catch his breath he simply half-nodded, half-sneered at the kid. He'd started this, after all. Red refused to take blame for it himself, which was pretty typical of him. The kid was the one with the mouth, anyway.
It didn't seem like he had much to do. The Asian man threw not just Rock, but he smaller red-headed bitch, over his hip. They landed with a surprising crash that drew the attention of even the most jaded House of Pain-goers, and just like that, the fight was done.
Red flopped down onto the empty booth bench and waited for Rock to rejoin him.
Gasping to catch his breath he simply half-nodded, half-sneered at the kid. He'd started this, after all. Red refused to take blame for it himself, which was pretty typical of him. The kid was the one with the mouth, anyway.
It didn't seem like he had much to do. The Asian man threw not just Rock, but he smaller red-headed bitch, over his hip. They landed with a surprising crash that drew the attention of even the most jaded House of Pain-goers, and just like that, the fight was done.
Red flopped down onto the empty booth bench and waited for Rock to rejoin him.
Thug
15 years ago
Rock watched as the Asian's features returned to some semblance of what he assumed was normalcy. Even as his own minor wounds healed over, he noted that the smaller man's head wound didn't seem to be bleeding anymore. That explained the grin, then, and Rock returned it. Nothing like a good vampire brawl.
As the smart-mouthed kid approached, Rock realized he was, indeed, squashing the wild little redhead. Carefully arching himself up, he made sure not to crush her as he regained his feet.
"Sorry about that... have to admit though, you were pretty well stuck to my back."
Rock wasn't feeling too terribly apologetic. She'd been riding him like a prize bull after all, and those heels were painful. She didn't seem to be injured though, which made Rock laugh inside. Had there been any humans involved in this fight aside from Red? What about this kid? That was the HoP for you. Like a box of chocolates, you never knew what you were gonna get.
"It was fun. But I think we'll take ourselves elsewhere."
With a casual sort of salute at the group, Rock headed back to where Red sat, looking both annoyed and winded. Gathering his familiar up, Rock disappeared into the milling crowd of life and unlife that made up the House of Pain's usual clientele.
((ooc: Rock and Red out))
As the smart-mouthed kid approached, Rock realized he was, indeed, squashing the wild little redhead. Carefully arching himself up, he made sure not to crush her as he regained his feet.
"Sorry about that... have to admit though, you were pretty well stuck to my back."
Rock wasn't feeling too terribly apologetic. She'd been riding him like a prize bull after all, and those heels were painful. She didn't seem to be injured though, which made Rock laugh inside. Had there been any humans involved in this fight aside from Red? What about this kid? That was the HoP for you. Like a box of chocolates, you never knew what you were gonna get.
"It was fun. But I think we'll take ourselves elsewhere."
With a casual sort of salute at the group, Rock headed back to where Red sat, looking both annoyed and winded. Gathering his familiar up, Rock disappeared into the milling crowd of life and unlife that made up the House of Pain's usual clientele.
((ooc: Rock and Red out))
Ichiro Taiji
15 years ago
Tai was half-seeing red spots, but he was aware enough of his surroundings to give the bigger man a quick bow as he left. The fight had been a good one, he had to admit.
As Jan helped the short redheaded woman up, Tai put his hands together in a more formal manner and bowed again. "Excuse me," he said. "I didn't mean for you to go along for the ride."
Well; not necessarily true. He'd meant it, but he blamed his bloodlust-induced haze. Had he been thinking straight he'd probably have managed to separate his opponent from his rider first.
Waving his hand at her he shook his head. "Drinks are on me. It's the least I can do. Are you all right?"
She seemed fine. Tai supposed he cared, in a way, if she was hurt or not, although the mercenary part of him agreed that she'd crashed the fight and whatever lumps she'd taken were her own fault. Manners, however, required him to express concern.
Glancing at Jan, he gave the younger man a nod and a slow smile. "That was a good one."
And it was a good thing he'd intervened when he had. If Tai hadn't managed to snap himself out of his own bloodlust, the redhead might have come out far worse. Which begged the question - had Jan known? It wouldn't really surprise Tai if he had. Not here at the HoP anyway. Ellis had told him a great deal about the place, inculding the fact that it was, among other things, a very popular vampire hangout.
As Jan helped the short redheaded woman up, Tai put his hands together in a more formal manner and bowed again. "Excuse me," he said. "I didn't mean for you to go along for the ride."
Well; not necessarily true. He'd meant it, but he blamed his bloodlust-induced haze. Had he been thinking straight he'd probably have managed to separate his opponent from his rider first.
Waving his hand at her he shook his head. "Drinks are on me. It's the least I can do. Are you all right?"
She seemed fine. Tai supposed he cared, in a way, if she was hurt or not, although the mercenary part of him agreed that she'd crashed the fight and whatever lumps she'd taken were her own fault. Manners, however, required him to express concern.
Glancing at Jan, he gave the younger man a nod and a slow smile. "That was a good one."
And it was a good thing he'd intervened when he had. If Tai hadn't managed to snap himself out of his own bloodlust, the redhead might have come out far worse. Which begged the question - had Jan known? It wouldn't really surprise Tai if he had. Not here at the HoP anyway. Ellis had told him a great deal about the place, inculding the fact that it was, among other things, a very popular vampire hangout.
Jan
15 years ago
Watching the big guy get up carefully and depart with grace, Jan gave him a wave and a grin. At least it seemed that most of them had fun. Not that he cared for the most part; after all he didn't demand that they play along. Still, it could have been worse.
Jan's smile grew as it appeared that the small redhead was okay and he laughed outright when she offered to buy them both drinks. Not a bad situation at all, cause trouble and find additional entertaining company; at this rate he might start fights at every place he went.
Tai seemed to be more like his old self, old being the calm person he met all of an half an hour ago or so. Jan grinned and nodded agreement at the Asian's assessment of the fight.
"Yeah, I'm feeling almost chipper now and to think I was bored earlier."
He looked back at the redhead and offered out an arm towards her waist in order to help her limp over to the booth the taller redhead had just vacated.
"Shall we take a seat for those drinks?"
The crowd that had been so interested in the outcome of the fight just a few minutes ago could now care less about their well being; the people began milling back towards whatever they were doing. Soon the HoP would be completely back to normal.
"I'm Jan, by the way" He gestured with a wave of his hand in his companion's direction. "And this is Tai."
Jan's smile grew as it appeared that the small redhead was okay and he laughed outright when she offered to buy them both drinks. Not a bad situation at all, cause trouble and find additional entertaining company; at this rate he might start fights at every place he went.
Tai seemed to be more like his old self, old being the calm person he met all of an half an hour ago or so. Jan grinned and nodded agreement at the Asian's assessment of the fight.
"Yeah, I'm feeling almost chipper now and to think I was bored earlier."
He looked back at the redhead and offered out an arm towards her waist in order to help her limp over to the booth the taller redhead had just vacated.
"Shall we take a seat for those drinks?"
The crowd that had been so interested in the outcome of the fight just a few minutes ago could now care less about their well being; the people began milling back towards whatever they were doing. Soon the HoP would be completely back to normal.
"I'm Jan, by the way" He gestured with a wave of his hand in his companion's direction. "And this is Tai."
Valentine
15 years ago
Never let it be said Val wasn’t a gracious winner, or at least non-looser. She smiled sweetly at the pantywaist and the mountain as they left. They hadn’t been all bad, not all good, but at least it had been fun. She tossed a little half wave, bye bye boys don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
The Jap, however, made her laugh. Bullshit! Didn’t mean for her to go along for the ride, sure thing if he said so; Val decided to call him on it but in a cheerful good humored way. He was apologizing after all.
“Oh you did and you know it. But I’ll forgive you this time, since you’re buying.”
Was she all right? Of course she was, she was a bit harder to squish than most. Still for appearances sake she flexed a few things experimentally before nodding.
“Never better. At least I am, the shoes will never be the same.”
No way in hell would she ever find the heel, it had probably been kicked under a table somewhere. Possibly a freaky human would have picked it up for a souvenir, something to remember a real bar brawl. Hell it was what at least –some- of the patrons here hopped for why not take something to remember it by. God damned it she was irritated about the shoes. On the other hand, it was a great excuse to buy a new pair.
That the kid said he had been bored and picked a fight and was now chipper made him OK in her book. She could understand and even approved of that feeling. So, under the circumstances it was quite acceptable to let him help her over to the booth.
Ignoring the few patrons who were still rubbernecking she settled in.
“Pleasure. Valentine, Val if you’d rather.”
She almost never used her given name any more.
“So you two boys just decided to stir up some trouble for the hell of it? Or was there method to the madness.”
Either one was fine by her, she was just idly curious.
The Jap, however, made her laugh. Bullshit! Didn’t mean for her to go along for the ride, sure thing if he said so; Val decided to call him on it but in a cheerful good humored way. He was apologizing after all.
“Oh you did and you know it. But I’ll forgive you this time, since you’re buying.”
Was she all right? Of course she was, she was a bit harder to squish than most. Still for appearances sake she flexed a few things experimentally before nodding.
“Never better. At least I am, the shoes will never be the same.”
No way in hell would she ever find the heel, it had probably been kicked under a table somewhere. Possibly a freaky human would have picked it up for a souvenir, something to remember a real bar brawl. Hell it was what at least –some- of the patrons here hopped for why not take something to remember it by. God damned it she was irritated about the shoes. On the other hand, it was a great excuse to buy a new pair.
That the kid said he had been bored and picked a fight and was now chipper made him OK in her book. She could understand and even approved of that feeling. So, under the circumstances it was quite acceptable to let him help her over to the booth.
Ignoring the few patrons who were still rubbernecking she settled in.
“Pleasure. Valentine, Val if you’d rather.”
She almost never used her given name any more.
“So you two boys just decided to stir up some trouble for the hell of it? Or was there method to the madness.”
Either one was fine by her, she was just idly curious.
Ichiro Taiji
15 years ago
Tai didn't respnd to the redhead's accusation of insincerity; not with words, anyway. He simply inclined his head the slightest bit in acknowledgement of her claim. Introductions were made all around, and Tai followed Jan and Val to the empty booth Jan had indicated, sitting once they were situated. He kept one wary eye on the throng of patrons, half-expecting some form of retaliation, or even for another fight to break out, but everyone was returning back to business as usual.
At Val's last question he laughed softly. "Yes," he answered, deliberately being vague.
Waving a waitress over, he raised an eyebrow at Val to indicate she should order first.
The fight being done with, he was waffling over the issue of whether to return to his usual taciturn self, or actually be sociable. It wasn't a question he had bothered with much in the past, but since arriving in Nachton he'd abandoned the web of support that had come from being Yakuza. Yuu had provided him with a temporary fallback, and the Ellis had become something similar, but now even she appeared to be unreliable.
Tai enjoyed working alone, but he wasn't so naiive as to believe one could remain solo forever. A support network was required, even if just for friendly alibis. What could Val and Jan offer? He wasn't sure... but based on what he'd just witnessed and been a part of, it was surely worth looking into.
At Val's last question he laughed softly. "Yes," he answered, deliberately being vague.
Waving a waitress over, he raised an eyebrow at Val to indicate she should order first.
The fight being done with, he was waffling over the issue of whether to return to his usual taciturn self, or actually be sociable. It wasn't a question he had bothered with much in the past, but since arriving in Nachton he'd abandoned the web of support that had come from being Yakuza. Yuu had provided him with a temporary fallback, and the Ellis had become something similar, but now even she appeared to be unreliable.
Tai enjoyed working alone, but he wasn't so naiive as to believe one could remain solo forever. A support network was required, even if just for friendly alibis. What could Val and Jan offer? He wasn't sure... but based on what he'd just witnessed and been a part of, it was surely worth looking into.
Jan
15 years ago
Jan dropped down into the booth after Val and considered her question. The honest answer would be that originally trouble found them but how un-suave did that sound? Of course, they both waded out into the seething mass of bodies with the express purpose of finding mischief the second time.
Tai answered with an amusing one liner and he decided to elaborate... after a fashion.
"That would be giving away our mission, Ma'am." Jan did his best to look stern and official; he gave a feigned nod of concern to his companion before leaning closer and continuing in a hushed tone, "And I'm afraid we can't do that. Let's just say that's its a matter of utmost importance."
To him anyway, Jan took his entertainment very seriously. He then leaned back, draping an arm over the booth and broke into a grin.
"It was at least a good fight; though I think my thunder was stolen by some small redheaded firecracker who came out of nowhere."
More than a little bit curious about that, Jan turned to Val and asked the question that would have instantly been on his mind as soon as the chaos had died down.
"What exactly got you so angry with our friends?"
He did recall her saying something about the redhead annoying her but there was little time to get further details.
((OOC: Sorry, I kept thinking there were people that needed to go for some reason.))
Tai answered with an amusing one liner and he decided to elaborate... after a fashion.
"That would be giving away our mission, Ma'am." Jan did his best to look stern and official; he gave a feigned nod of concern to his companion before leaning closer and continuing in a hushed tone, "And I'm afraid we can't do that. Let's just say that's its a matter of utmost importance."
To him anyway, Jan took his entertainment very seriously. He then leaned back, draping an arm over the booth and broke into a grin.
"It was at least a good fight; though I think my thunder was stolen by some small redheaded firecracker who came out of nowhere."
More than a little bit curious about that, Jan turned to Val and asked the question that would have instantly been on his mind as soon as the chaos had died down.
"What exactly got you so angry with our friends?"
He did recall her saying something about the redhead annoying her but there was little time to get further details.
((OOC: Sorry, I kept thinking there were people that needed to go for some reason.))
Valentine
15 years ago
Hmmm the broody strong and silent type. It was cute. She cheerfully rolled her eyes at Tai’s answer and ordered a scotch on the rocks, a double. The kid, Jan as he called himself, was much easier to play with. Val had no trouble at all turning an accusatory finger on him, but she couldn’t bring herself to glower.
“Call me ‘ma’am’ again and I’ll shoot you.”
She stated sweetly, while still being totally serious. Still the play-acting made her giggle at him.
God bless he didn’t look old enough to order a drink, or even be allowed in the bar. She mentally chalked him up as ‘one of them’. The Jap on the other hand it was harder to get a read on, but between his association with Jan and his fighting Val added him to the same list. Who was to say humans were the only source of entertainment at the House of Pain?
Giving them both a second to order and waiting for the waitress to be shooed away, she took a bit of a risk and turned a rather toothy grin on both of them, not bothering to hide her rather large canines. Even if both Tai and Jan turned out to be human lots of folks wore odd get ups here and she had lots of experience explaining away her teeth.
“Oh my temper just got the better of me. You know the whole thing about hell hath no furry? He interrupted. I had a very nice… … date,” it had taken a second to settle on the word, “And he decided the fight was more interesting than I was. I –hate- being turned down or stood up. It makes me grouchy. Still it was bad form to intrude I apologize.”
But it had been a blast. Val could be happy if she ran into a good rousing fight at least once a month. Once a week would be better, but beggars couldn’t be choosers.
“Call me ‘ma’am’ again and I’ll shoot you.”
She stated sweetly, while still being totally serious. Still the play-acting made her giggle at him.
God bless he didn’t look old enough to order a drink, or even be allowed in the bar. She mentally chalked him up as ‘one of them’. The Jap on the other hand it was harder to get a read on, but between his association with Jan and his fighting Val added him to the same list. Who was to say humans were the only source of entertainment at the House of Pain?
Giving them both a second to order and waiting for the waitress to be shooed away, she took a bit of a risk and turned a rather toothy grin on both of them, not bothering to hide her rather large canines. Even if both Tai and Jan turned out to be human lots of folks wore odd get ups here and she had lots of experience explaining away her teeth.
“Oh my temper just got the better of me. You know the whole thing about hell hath no furry? He interrupted. I had a very nice… … date,” it had taken a second to settle on the word, “And he decided the fight was more interesting than I was. I –hate- being turned down or stood up. It makes me grouchy. Still it was bad form to intrude I apologize.”
But it had been a blast. Val could be happy if she ran into a good rousing fight at least once a month. Once a week would be better, but beggars couldn’t be choosers.
Ichiro Taiji
15 years ago
Since the screwdriver seemed to be his drink of choice that night, Tai stuck with it and ordered a second one from the waitress. He watched Val carefully without seeming to, chuckling softly at her admission that her date had pissed her off with his inattentiveness.
Her teeth were surprising, but he was well-schooled in the art of the poker face and didn't show it. He wouldn't have guessed this little thing for a vampire and even though many of the HoP's human patrons often dressed up, Tai didn't get the impression that she had. For one, her speech was entirely unimpeded by lisping or whistling, both of which he'd noticed could be caused by wearing fake teeth. There was the odd person who went for cosmetic surgery and had caps placed on their canines. He might have put her into that pile except for the fact that she'd taken more than a few hard knocks and had not even a bruise to show for it.
Then again, he hadn't had the occasion to do a thorough check.
Either way Tai mentally filed Val into his list of likely vampires. If nothing else it made her worth furthering the acquaintance.
Tai shook his head, then deciding on an appropriate response when Val apologised. "No apology necessary," he said, glancing at Jan with the ghost of a grin. "My partner here was slow to warm up anyway."
He turned his attention to Jan to make it clear he was addressing the young man now. "Nice catch, though." He recalled Jan bending over nearly backwards yet somehow remaining upon his feet to catch Val earlier. Tai was flexible, well-trained, and had excellent balance, but not in his wildest dreams did he imagine he could perform such a feat.
Her teeth were surprising, but he was well-schooled in the art of the poker face and didn't show it. He wouldn't have guessed this little thing for a vampire and even though many of the HoP's human patrons often dressed up, Tai didn't get the impression that she had. For one, her speech was entirely unimpeded by lisping or whistling, both of which he'd noticed could be caused by wearing fake teeth. There was the odd person who went for cosmetic surgery and had caps placed on their canines. He might have put her into that pile except for the fact that she'd taken more than a few hard knocks and had not even a bruise to show for it.
Then again, he hadn't had the occasion to do a thorough check.
Either way Tai mentally filed Val into his list of likely vampires. If nothing else it made her worth furthering the acquaintance.
Tai shook his head, then deciding on an appropriate response when Val apologised. "No apology necessary," he said, glancing at Jan with the ghost of a grin. "My partner here was slow to warm up anyway."
He turned his attention to Jan to make it clear he was addressing the young man now. "Nice catch, though." He recalled Jan bending over nearly backwards yet somehow remaining upon his feet to catch Val earlier. Tai was flexible, well-trained, and had excellent balance, but not in his wildest dreams did he imagine he could perform such a feat.
Jan
15 years ago
Jan threw up his arms in surrender at Val's threat and then took his turn to order a drink. Third time's the charm, he thought as he ordered and he hoped that this glass of red wine might actually survive long enough to be fully appreciated.
Raising his eyebrows at the redhead's visual demonstration of why her would be date's lack of attention caused her so much ire, Jan shrugged in easy going understanding. After all he couldn't claim to be the calm one in the bar after taking personal exception to wearing his first drink of the night.
"You know companies these days have excellent dental plans..." Jan leaned away from the potential slap that he richly deserved and glanced over to see how his companion was taking the explanation.
How could you tell with 'Mr Miyagi' doing the zen-like calm thing? He seemed to be completely unphased but Jan had seen that lack of reaction before when it turned out to be extreme shock that only hit the person later. Still, it wasn't as if her head spun around or she floated three feet above the table, in the grand scheme of things Val's visual admission could easily be explained and covered up, especially in a place like this; so Jan doubted Tai was just too shocked to respond with at least something.
Of course then there was the comment about his lack of involvement in the fight and Jan's attention turned to something far more pressing, like defending his honor.
"Excuse me, but as I recall there was a lady involved and I would not have wanted to be rude and steal her thunder. She obviously had a score to settle and I was not about to get in the way of that by being all ungentlemanly."
Feeling that was all the explanation that was needed, He smiled at the mention of the catch that kept himself and Val from becoming a tumbled heap on the floor.
"Thanks, I try."
Raising his eyebrows at the redhead's visual demonstration of why her would be date's lack of attention caused her so much ire, Jan shrugged in easy going understanding. After all he couldn't claim to be the calm one in the bar after taking personal exception to wearing his first drink of the night.
"You know companies these days have excellent dental plans..." Jan leaned away from the potential slap that he richly deserved and glanced over to see how his companion was taking the explanation.
How could you tell with 'Mr Miyagi' doing the zen-like calm thing? He seemed to be completely unphased but Jan had seen that lack of reaction before when it turned out to be extreme shock that only hit the person later. Still, it wasn't as if her head spun around or she floated three feet above the table, in the grand scheme of things Val's visual admission could easily be explained and covered up, especially in a place like this; so Jan doubted Tai was just too shocked to respond with at least something.
Of course then there was the comment about his lack of involvement in the fight and Jan's attention turned to something far more pressing, like defending his honor.
"Excuse me, but as I recall there was a lady involved and I would not have wanted to be rude and steal her thunder. She obviously had a score to settle and I was not about to get in the way of that by being all ungentlemanly."
Feeling that was all the explanation that was needed, He smiled at the mention of the catch that kept himself and Val from becoming a tumbled heap on the floor.
"Thanks, I try."
Valentine
15 years ago
Val swung her foot, the one with the broken heel, toward Jan intending to lightly kick him in the shins. Make fun of her teeth would he. Still it was rather funny.
“You have –no- idea how much these cost me and under most plans the cosmetic rubbish isn’t covered.”
She lightly brushed things off. Let them make of it what they will, vampire or eccentric human it was all the same to her.
Letting Tai give Jan a bit of grief, she laughed a bit. It was good some one else was calling the kid on things, but it wasn’t fair to put it on her.
“Now don’t try turning this on me. I practically handed you the little one after I’d had my say. At the very least I would have shared.”
Not that she suspected the big guy would have been too keen on that. But it might have been fun. It didn’t matter, she was just playing now still in a good mood from the little outing.
“It was a very nice catch I must agree. Do you get to practice it often?”
Tai had his fair share of pretty moments in the scuffle as well though. Nothing quite as flashy but over all quite impressive; in short she’d rather not tangle with him unarmed. Still she wasn’t intimidated by him and had no issues giving him a little bit of hell.
“You, however, need to work on the timing of your throws. Nicely executed but you could hurt innocent bystanders.”
“You have –no- idea how much these cost me and under most plans the cosmetic rubbish isn’t covered.”
She lightly brushed things off. Let them make of it what they will, vampire or eccentric human it was all the same to her.
Letting Tai give Jan a bit of grief, she laughed a bit. It was good some one else was calling the kid on things, but it wasn’t fair to put it on her.
“Now don’t try turning this on me. I practically handed you the little one after I’d had my say. At the very least I would have shared.”
Not that she suspected the big guy would have been too keen on that. But it might have been fun. It didn’t matter, she was just playing now still in a good mood from the little outing.
“It was a very nice catch I must agree. Do you get to practice it often?”
Tai had his fair share of pretty moments in the scuffle as well though. Nothing quite as flashy but over all quite impressive; in short she’d rather not tangle with him unarmed. Still she wasn’t intimidated by him and had no issues giving him a little bit of hell.
“You, however, need to work on the timing of your throws. Nicely executed but you could hurt innocent bystanders.”
Ichiro Taiji
15 years ago
Tai raised an eyebrow at Val's comment regarding cosmetics. He offered her the barest of nods, not buying the story a bit but willing to let her get away with it. Teeth aside, as he'd observed previously she bounced right back for a girl who'd been almost crushed beneath at least three hundred pounds of pure muscle.
Mentally he shrugged to himself, offering Jan a dry laugh at his insistence that he was just being gentlemanly. "Let it not be said chivalry is dead," he replied with irony, and the slightest of smiles.
As the conversation turned to friendly funning and banter, Tai was surprised to have Val comment upon his own actions. Even moreso that she seemed concerned for any "innocent bystanders."
"My throw was timed perfectly," he said calmly. "They should have been doing less bystanding and more moving out of the way."
It had been a good throw; if he could criticize his own work at all, his one correction would have been to add a little more heft next time; Val's added weight had caused him to miscalculate. His aim had been to have the big man break the bar.
Mentally he shrugged to himself, offering Jan a dry laugh at his insistence that he was just being gentlemanly. "Let it not be said chivalry is dead," he replied with irony, and the slightest of smiles.
As the conversation turned to friendly funning and banter, Tai was surprised to have Val comment upon his own actions. Even moreso that she seemed concerned for any "innocent bystanders."
"My throw was timed perfectly," he said calmly. "They should have been doing less bystanding and more moving out of the way."
It had been a good throw; if he could criticize his own work at all, his one correction would have been to add a little more heft next time; Val's added weight had caused him to miscalculate. His aim had been to have the big man break the bar.
Jan
15 years ago
Jan raised an eyebrow at Val and then chuckled at Tai's dry humor. He gave the Asian a seated flourish of a bow in response and then leaned back and looked around at the club. They were all but being ignored at this point; he quickly noted the few people still giving them an occasional glance but for the most part they were old news.
Hearing the banter about Tai's skills, Jan had to smile at the resulting defense. He nodded his agreement.
"Yes, I have to say that its the responsibility of the gawkers to get out of the way. It is a sport unto itself, though not a very active one, and if you can't move quickly then you'll soon learn not to stand on the frontlines."
Pausing for a thoughtful moment he added.
"Perhaps they should have Olympic Gawking as a new sport. It might have interesting potential."
Hearing the banter about Tai's skills, Jan had to smile at the resulting defense. He nodded his agreement.
"Yes, I have to say that its the responsibility of the gawkers to get out of the way. It is a sport unto itself, though not a very active one, and if you can't move quickly then you'll soon learn not to stand on the frontlines."
Pausing for a thoughtful moment he added.
"Perhaps they should have Olympic Gawking as a new sport. It might have interesting potential."
Valentine
15 years ago
An imperious yet questioning expression was turned on Tai. Arrogant son of a bitch wasn't he? OK not arrogant, he was right the throw was excellent she might not say perfect but excellent so she mentally down graded him from arrogant to confidant and less than modest. Regardless it made her laugh, especially when Jan jumped into defend the big guy. They did make a pair didn't they?
"All right, all right you win. The throw was perfect, aside from my timing, and the rest of these tomatoes need to pay attention to their surroundings."Â?
She said with a toothy grin before shaking her head at Jan.
"Let's not encourage them shall we? As it is I don't understand why more of them didn't get involved. People just don't understand a good time these days. Besides, it can't be very interesting to watch gawking; even if it is Olympic grade gawking. I do wonder how you'd score it though."Â?
The thought ran through her head unbidden. It was an odd idea. And what would they be gawking at. Nope, didn't matter, it would be boring to watch people gawking. But she didn't mind adding some food to the thought.
"All right, all right you win. The throw was perfect, aside from my timing, and the rest of these tomatoes need to pay attention to their surroundings."Â?
She said with a toothy grin before shaking her head at Jan.
"Let's not encourage them shall we? As it is I don't understand why more of them didn't get involved. People just don't understand a good time these days. Besides, it can't be very interesting to watch gawking; even if it is Olympic grade gawking. I do wonder how you'd score it though."Â?
The thought ran through her head unbidden. It was an odd idea. And what would they be gawking at. Nope, didn't matter, it would be boring to watch people gawking. But she didn't mind adding some food to the thought.
Ichiro Taiji
15 years ago
Tai shook his head at Jan. "I don't know, it sounds like it might be a ittle difficult to market. It seems to lack the edge-of-seat excitement most gawkers look for."
To Val, he simply shrugged, acknowledging his "win" as she put it. He didn't need approval from a bar brawler to reassure his confidence in his own skills. He was foolhardy enough to imagine he was at the top of the food chain, but he'd trained enough to know when he'd performed such a throw properly.
Her slang mystified him though. "Tomatoes?" He'd had a hard enough time with 'gawkers' but at least that one he'd heard before. Referring to spectators as tomatoes was a new one for him. Try as he might, he failed to see where the resemblance was, unless it was simply that tomatoes, like gawkers, just sat there. He raised his brows at Val, hoping she'd elaborate, gancing at Jan for the same just in case the young man had heard it before too. He liked to think his English was fairly fluent and he did keep on top of most popular slang, but this one was from out of the blue.
To Val, he simply shrugged, acknowledging his "win" as she put it. He didn't need approval from a bar brawler to reassure his confidence in his own skills. He was foolhardy enough to imagine he was at the top of the food chain, but he'd trained enough to know when he'd performed such a throw properly.
Her slang mystified him though. "Tomatoes?" He'd had a hard enough time with 'gawkers' but at least that one he'd heard before. Referring to spectators as tomatoes was a new one for him. Try as he might, he failed to see where the resemblance was, unless it was simply that tomatoes, like gawkers, just sat there. He raised his brows at Val, hoping she'd elaborate, gancing at Jan for the same just in case the young man had heard it before too. He liked to think his English was fairly fluent and he did keep on top of most popular slang, but this one was from out of the blue.
Jan
15 years ago
Jan sighed and shook his head as the other two nay sayed his new sport.
"What you're missing are the details. Can they successfully gawk while people and things are being thrown at them? Or dodge a swing that goes wrong? And to keep this from being bar room dodge ball, there should be a judge, who has to dodge the mayhem as well, asking them to relay specific details of the fight."
He shrugged and looked up as the waitress set down their drinks.
"So there's a technical merit and style to it. It shouldn't be watching paint dry or anything. They already have that...its called Curling."
Taking a sip of his wine, Jan shook his head in silent response to Tai's look concerning Val's turn of phrase. She could have meant the other redheads, those had certainly been called tomatoes before and there were two of them in the fight. The only other time he'd ever heard tomato not mean what it should was early in the twentieth century but then it was a reference to a very "ripe" female, and while Jan could hope to see more of those types enter into bar brawls for his own gawking pleasure, it didn't seem likely to be the way Val intended it. He figured he'd let the lady explain.
"What you're missing are the details. Can they successfully gawk while people and things are being thrown at them? Or dodge a swing that goes wrong? And to keep this from being bar room dodge ball, there should be a judge, who has to dodge the mayhem as well, asking them to relay specific details of the fight."
He shrugged and looked up as the waitress set down their drinks.
"So there's a technical merit and style to it. It shouldn't be watching paint dry or anything. They already have that...its called Curling."
Taking a sip of his wine, Jan shook his head in silent response to Tai's look concerning Val's turn of phrase. She could have meant the other redheads, those had certainly been called tomatoes before and there were two of them in the fight. The only other time he'd ever heard tomato not mean what it should was early in the twentieth century but then it was a reference to a very "ripe" female, and while Jan could hope to see more of those types enter into bar brawls for his own gawking pleasure, it didn't seem likely to be the way Val intended it. He figured he'd let the lady explain.
Valentine
15 years ago
“Now –that- might have possibilities.”
Val agreed cheerfully. She hadn’t considered haven’t to gawk through distractions, and for some reason she thought bombs. Of course, bombs made everything better didn’t they?
“I think you get two sports for the price of one though one set of judges for the gawkers and another set for the brawlers.”
She wrinkled her nose in distaste.
“Almost sounds like football though doesn’t it?”
The drink was eyed a bit dubiously, she hadn’t specified a brand, something she nearly always did. A delicate sniff and she decided it was acceptable and sipped at it. Not bad, not bad at all.
Her odd use of older slang had apparently caught some attention. OK so it wasn’t –quite- how the term had been used back in the day but it had evolved a bit for her. Of course, she was probably the only person in three states who still used the term so…
Not feeling like elaborating or belaboring the point she waved her hand slightly indicating to just let it go.
“Ah but Curling has a long and glorious tradition.”
Val rolled her eyes and gave a mock yawn; stupid Scots chasing after a rock on the ice and now the sold tickets to it. But if they could do that, gawking was a shoe in.
Val agreed cheerfully. She hadn’t considered haven’t to gawk through distractions, and for some reason she thought bombs. Of course, bombs made everything better didn’t they?
“I think you get two sports for the price of one though one set of judges for the gawkers and another set for the brawlers.”
She wrinkled her nose in distaste.
“Almost sounds like football though doesn’t it?”
The drink was eyed a bit dubiously, she hadn’t specified a brand, something she nearly always did. A delicate sniff and she decided it was acceptable and sipped at it. Not bad, not bad at all.
Her odd use of older slang had apparently caught some attention. OK so it wasn’t –quite- how the term had been used back in the day but it had evolved a bit for her. Of course, she was probably the only person in three states who still used the term so…
Not feeling like elaborating or belaboring the point she waved her hand slightly indicating to just let it go.
“Ah but Curling has a long and glorious tradition.”
Val rolled her eyes and gave a mock yawn; stupid Scots chasing after a rock on the ice and now the sold tickets to it. But if they could do that, gawking was a shoe in.