meadowlarklogs | (no subject)

[ It's one of those days where he doesn't really have anywhere to be, so, might as well end up at Red Wings. Probably just drink a little, kill some time, go back to what passes for home nowadays, sleep. Just an unremarkable day.

Except when he enters and gets a first glance at the interior he can see a familiar figure sitting at the bar, even if it's just her back towards him. And she's alone so, hey, why the hell not. Amos makes his way over to his friend/current roommate, parking himself right down next to Kyna and immediately getting a strong impression of the fries and... whatever else they're drowning in.

He looks down at it for a second, then up at her. ]

Are those actually any good?

[ He's maybe kinda intrigued. Being back on Earth has made food something of an adventure again, mostly for the better. This is definitely new though. ]

[She's glad to see Amos, actually. He doesn't get the enthusiastic greeting he'd usually get, but she shoots him a little smile, sliding the fries toward him and scooting her stool closer, too. Maybe Amos will be willing to drink with her and complain about how bullshit this place is. Or maybe he'll be willing to just listen to her complain.]

It depends on your definition of "good".

[ The smaller smile is noted, as are the fries. Both would probably point to something being wrong - or, well, maybe not wrong, but not ideal circumstances - but first things first. He reaches for a fry sticking out over the edge, liberating it from its saucy pool and popping it in his mouth before it gets too droopy.

He feels like it's something he should find distasteful but... he likes it, maybe? It's definitely junk but sometimes junk is nice. Amos' expression brightens a little. He gets something to wash this down with and it might work. ]

Dunno if I always have the right definition. [ Story of his life. He goes for a second fry while they're still there, so that should indicate some level of approval, even if things seem off otherwise.

Giving Kyna his full attention again, ] What's the occasion?

[It's cute, the way his expression shifts, and she gives the fries a little wave as though to say go wild. With most people, she might brush that question off, but somehow Amos has very quickly found his way into the circle of people Kyna trusts. He certainly understands how confusing emotions can be, after all.]

I'm moping.

[She says it quietly, a little self-deprecating.]

Sam's gone. I think.

Oh.

[ He's muted in turn. He's heard about people disappearing before, but it's never really happened to anyone he's cared about. Or, scratch that, he's never had to see someone he cares about have to go through the experience. If anything, he's mostly sorry it's happened to her.

For lack of anything better to do, he waves down whoever's working behind the bar; if the fries are available to him he's definitely going to want a beer to go with them. He looks back at Kyna, and, really, because what else is he going to say, ]

You want one too?

[ Apparently he's buying now, which, that's fine. It'll help make up for how ill-prepared he is to say anything that could possibly make her feel better. Hopefully. At least alcohol's a universal language. ]

Sure.

[She says, soft and grateful. She knows Amos isn't great at this stuff, but just having him here is nice, so she leans against him, settling her head on his shoulder.]

I'm not freaking out. Promise.

[Mostly.]

[ Two it is, then. At least to start; who knows where this is going to go.

He hesitates when she leans against him. It's still a little surprising. Not so much that Kyna does it - she's just that kind of person - but more so that he's finding he really enjoys having someone like her in his life. Someone who will initiate that level of closeness. With him, of all people.

It feels nice. Warm. He brings his hand up to rest on her far shoulder, gives it a soft squeeze in return. ]

That's good.

[ Seriously, please don't start freaking out. ]

You gonna be okay? Or...

[ Nope, he doesn't have a followup to that. Just leaves the word hanging there awkwardly, rectifies it with a first sip of his drink. ]

[Contact like this has always come naturally to Kyna, but she knows it doesn't for Amos, so the squeeze means even more than it might otherwise. She sighs, settling into him and staying put.]

Um... I think so. I mean... He might come back, right?

[But she knows how that sounds, like she's refusing to accept the chance that he won't.]

Sure. He founds his way here in the first place. No reason he couldn't end up coming back.

[ Not like he knows how any of this works, but it seems logical enough.

It probably wouldn't be the right move to go for another fry; not when she's pressed this close against him. He looks down at her face instead, the way she's gotten comfortable against his shoulder, and makes no move to disrupt that, staying still himself. ]

He was telling me how he found some pirate island before he got here, but not any of the treasure. Maybe that's what he's doing now.

[That should make her feel better, and it does, sort of, picturing Sam doing what he most wanted to do. On the other hand, it just makes her miss him more somehow, picturing him telling her all about the treasure he found in that over the top way he has. She should be happy that he's probably back home, but there's a selfish part of her that can't be.

She tries to feign it, though, focusing on the positive part, even if her heart isn't really in it.]

Yeah. Maybe he's filthy rich.

[ He does pick up on how subdued she is; how muted she's been since he found her. This is just going to have to be one of those things he doesn't have an answer for.

He lightly squeezes her shoulder again for lack of anything better to do, wonders if he should keep his hand up there. Maybe while she's still resting her head on his? ]

Wonder if it'd be worth anything here. Or what the first thing he'd buy would be.

[It might be a small thing, but it's nice. It helps.]

Probably globetrotting and looking for more pirate shit.

Sounds like him. Wonder if there's even any pirate shit here.

[ Because who knows; maybe someone in this world already scooped it all up.

That's all pretty beside the point, though. She's upset and they're both just kind of falling into a pattern of deflecting now, so, ]

You sure you're okay?

Um.

[It's a stunning response, especially combined with the way she's suddenly fascinated by the bar top. As always, it's so tempting to lie—brush it off with a joke, say of course she is. But she can't really bring herself to lie to Amos.]

No.

[And maybe there's a waver in her voice there.]

But, um... I think I'll get there.

[ He looks down at her, the way she gets more distant now that he's gotten her to directly confront the actual situation at hand. It sounds like her words should be something encouraging or reassuring, but the waver in her voice isn't really helping there.

Amos takes a second to stare at the lack of anything interesting on the bar top, silent while he does so. After a moment, he looks back at Kyna. ]

So, I'm not good at these kinds of things, [ stating the obvious there, ] but you need to vent or complain or whatever, I am good at listening. Or if you just wanna talk about stupid shit. I'm good for that too. Whatever'll help you get there.

[That actually gets a laugh out of her—soft and a little strangled, but hey.]

I suck at it too. But you're already helping. Really. Maybe you're better at this shit than you think.

Yeah?

[ There's a modest surprise to his voice. Not that he's doubting her or anything, just, wasn't expecting that. ]

Well, shit, whatever works.

[ A beat as he considers for a moment and then figures, fuck it, reaching for another fry. If they're just gonna sit there. Might as well.

Chewing thoughtfully, ] Maybe it's 'cause we're both bad at it. Cancels each other out.

Maybe.

[She nudges the fries a bit closer to him, a silent invitation for him to eat as much as he wants.]

Or maybe you're just nice to be around.

[ He goes for another, then a drink because damn, it's a strong taste. He likes it, but it's different and something he's still gotta ease into.

Plus, it's a good excuse to absorb her words without having to reply right away. ]

Maybe. [ He's non-committal. Still gotta feel out that notion. ] Could say the same about you. Even if you're moping. [ A bit more of a teasing tone on the last thought. For moping, this really isn't all bad. ]

[Kyna bursts out laughing, giving him what she'd like to think is a savage elbow to his ribs. Considering her noodle arms, it's probably not all that painful.]

Shut up, asshole. You totally love hanging out with me.

[ He obliges her anyway, exhaling softly at the impact. First getting punched in the face in an alternate reality, now this. The abuse he takes.

He does smile when he turns back to her, though, small but genuine. ]

Yeah. You're a good person.

[Kyna's surprised by it—the sudden compliment and the smile, even though maybe she shouldn't be. Her own grin softens, head tilting.]

You are too, you know. I know you don't think you are, but... It's true.

[ Amos blinks, lips parting slightly to reply with his instinctual reaction - no, I'm really not - before thinking better of it. Kyna's seen more of him than most have. More of him than he knew about himself, really. So she might be onto something there, much as he still doesn't quite believe it.

Also, it wouldn't be productive. Especially not here and now. So he lets it drop, goes for another fry. It's easier.

When he turns back to her, his expression's a little more thoughtful than before. ] Just gonna have to try to keep that up, then. [ Not like it's any different from how he's been living his life.

And, more casually, gesturing back to the cheese-soaked container, ] You sure you're not gonna have any? It's your moping food.

[As though following an order, Kyna pops another fry into her mouth, chews, swallows. She's more interested in his reply, though, and isn't quite ready to drop it.]

I'm serious. You're always checking in on me and listening when I'm upset. And you're like... You know. You never judge me. It's...

[She appreciates it, maybe more than she can articulate, especially in her current state.]

Really, really nice.

[Well, she tried.]

[ Amos falls quiet, absorbing her words. It's his turn to stare blankly at the bar top for a moment. He can't really refute her. And it's not like he wants to argue, either. They just... don't add up to the full picture. Not quite.

When he looks back up at her, any trace of a smile is gone from his expression, but it's an open and honest one. ]

Thanks.

[ He wants to play it off like it's no big deal, but it clearly is, and they both know it. He's sincere in his response. Sometimes it's not so much what's said as much as how it's said. ]

Kinda what anyone should do, but yeah. I get what you mean. [ A beat. ] Glad I can be that kind of person for you.

[ It's not really a full acceptance of the idea of being a good person, but it's more than he usually thinks of himself. And it's nice, knowing he can have these kinds of relationships, get them right. Not like he's going to try to downplay that. ]