Coffee and Cellphones... (OPEN)

[Kazuki Akimoto]

"Another espresso, sir?"

A pleasant smile being returned to the waitress as he folded down the book he was reading idly, he gave her a slow nod as she scrawled down the order, fishing away the empty cup in front of him and turning to return to the counter...Returning to his book, he smirked at the sound of the coffee-maker hissing as the fresh beverage was prepared for him....

'I'll give this city one thing, it's got far better style than Varron ever could have wished to get...The coffee's better here too.....'

Letting out a near-silent chuckle to himself at the observation, he let his eyes wander around the rest of the small cafe again as he, partially as his natural instinct still jabbed him to do, took in the surroundings and the faces of the people around him...Relaxed and idle though he might be in a place like this, he was never off-guard. It was perhaps this very thing that made him a hard person to approach, and one who might well be perceived as cold and sharp as a direct result of it.

Days and situations like this were perhaps the best times to see the most unguarded the man would ever really become, with the exception of the presence of a select few individuals, and to some who remembered the gruffness he had possessed in past times, it would likely surprise them to see the man sitting comfortably in a large, soft leather chair, a leg crossed loosely over his knees as he leaned slightly to one side of the chair, his elbow supporting him from the arm of the chair...

"Here you go sir, will there be anything else for you at the moment?"

The waitress returning brought him away from the book once more, and he upturned it to set it on the arm of the chair for the time being as he leaned forward, picking up the cup and taking a quick sip of the steaming drink....

"No, thank you. This is excellent."

"Shall I just continue your tab for the day?"

"Please, if you would..."

"No problem, I'll come back over in a little while and see if you need a refill", she spoke as she turned away, giving him a lingering glance over her shoulder as he nodded slowly, setting the cup back down and picking the book back up, giving only a final, passing glance towards the young woman. She was attractive indeed, perhaps a year or two younger than he was with rich, ebony skin and hair that hung almost airily in a loose, light ponytail between her shoulders. He had, admittedly, been somewhat taken aback by her at first, most notably since she had, unlike a lot of waitresses, worn no makeup. Something he had always held particular disdain for was women who believed that makeup was something to throw on at all times of the day for the simplest things, and work was one of those unless it was a requirement. Finding it somewhat tasteless to see a girl at twenty lathering on powders and creams to apparently make herself more beautiful something he could only compare to Geishas, he stopped the analogy there...

This girl on the other hand had been the exact opposite, homely, but still very pretty, if not moreso for her natural appearance...Regardless of it all, he immediately returned to thoughts of another young woman in his head, his breath picking up to a single, low sigh as he leaned back, the book set on his lap as he tilted his head back, aimlessly staring at the ceiling...It had been a few days since the day he had revealed the truth to Kira, and for the time being he had decided to take some time to go out, put his feet up and think about less important matters.

The dull buzz of his cellphone, a recent acquiration he had purchased earlier this afternoon, he glanced down at it with a smirk...He figured it had to be one of two people at the moment, and picking it up he answered the call with a somewhat curt 'Yes?'...

"Well, it seems your phone manner doesn't improve for unknown calls, mister..."

He chuckled again, this time the sound escaping his lips somewhat, "Hey Rocco..."

"Enjoying the new phone so far then, or were you just waiting to hear my handsome voice?"

"Wouldn't you know it, you're the first person to call me. I don't know if that's a good thing though, but how're things?"

"Heh, Rene and I are thinking about going to get some cocktail ingredients, I figured I'd see if you wanted something else besides that damn rum of yours..."

"Hm, I guess I could go for a Margharita, pick up a bottle of tequila and some lime mix...?"

"Alright, we'll see you later on. Try to be back in a few hours, alright? Don't get yourself locked into anything again..."

"You're the pinnacle of fucking humour, Rocco..."

"Yeah, I love you too schnookums..."

Rolling his eyes as his room-mate once again intended on having the last laugh, he smirked as he considered hiring a female stripper to show up at the house for him...That, he knew, would be more than enough to have the gay man plead for mercy...Setting the phone down once more, he picked the coffee that had sat alone the last few minutes and took another quick swig of the caffeine ridden beverage, sighing deeply and sitting back. Whilst he was at least aware that the cafe was almost full, he was not completely aware that his table was the most empty, him being the only person seated at it. If someone else were to sit in, it was likely they would set themselves at the other side of his table...

[Maverik]

“Margaritas? Don’t tell me you’ve gone completely gay on me” An old and familiar voice broke the silence that the man had been enjoying so well. “And here I was finding rumours that a certain club owner had been getting oh so close to a girl I used to know…” Slowly, the voice revealed itself to have a body attached. His friend and long time rival stood beside him grinning childishly as he gave the usual jabs.

Cup of scolding hot coffee in hand, he sat himself across from his friend, and a moment of silence fell across the table. “Who’d have thought that two dead men like us would end up in a coffee shop in San Francisco…” Maverik said with a slight chuckle. “Though I guess that’s just how it is… Varron came to this city, and it’s here to stay it would seem.” Maverik sipped lightly at his coffee, feinting caution of its heat. He in fact, had no such sensations in his mouth ever since he has scolded it, though he had strangely kept his sense of taste.

The two men who sat at that table shared a strange bond. They had met what seemed like an eternity ago, back in Varron when they were both seniors. Maverik had told Kazuki how stupid it had been of him to fight Shamino on his first day, and spent several hours talking to the hospitalised boy over stolen beers. Then, months later, they met again as both of them became members of that very same Shamino’s crime syndicate. Maverik had been Kazuki’s balance. His counterweight. And through their work, they had gotten to know each other well, fighting often, just to see who was better. It was the beginning of their strange relationship of being the best of friends, and the most vicious of rivals.

Many things had happened between the two. They were both Men now. Men with jobs and places in society. But underneath all that, they still held that suppressed desire to overturn their table and fight it out for old times sake. Maverik took another sip of his coffee before speaking again. “So… Kira huh?” He said slowly. “The one that got away so to speak” He chuckled. “Not that it’s any concern. I am quite happy as I am with Xian.” He added, almost as though he feared his girlfriend to be as well versed at finding and creating connections about a city. Maverik’s own list grew by the day, as he gained more information.

“Well Kazuki… Or Taiku as I believe the kids are calling you these days…” He added with a smirk. “I’ve something interesting to tell you…” He said slowly. “Xian and I… Well… We are going to have a child” He said with a now nervous grin. “I’m going to cut straight to the chase… I want you to be it’s god father… And I ask you this so soon and so suddenly, because after the war between the Hircinians and the Varronites escalated so quickly last week, I came to realise just how much danger I put myself in every day. It’s never mattered before… But now…” He sat back in his chair and sighed. “I need to be assured that if anything happens to me… Xian will have someone to help her, and our child will still have a man who will watch over them…” He looked Kazuki in the eyes. “So will you do it? For an old friend?” A slight smile crossing his lips.

[Kazuki Akimoto]

Don't tell me you've gone completely gay on me....

Raising an eyebrow at the remark, he almost looked up to protest when the voice suddenly grew familiar...Smirking lightly to himself and not raising his head fully, he simply quipped back with a dry tone, smoothly closing over the book and setting it on his lap as he spoke...

"This, coming from a man named 'Lance'...I think you have no room to talk, buddy...."

The swift rebuttal would be shot back as he leaned back in the chair, his eyes meeting with Maveriks as he silently smirked at the remark that followed almost immediately afterward. It was true by all means, but that would be a matter to discuss in due time. As it was, despite his calm demeanour, it begged the question as to why he had been fated to meet him again in this place, at this time.

After all, he knew from the past that meetings with Maverik after long spells of absence rarely occurred without merit. Leaning forward against the table a little more, uncrossing his legs and sitting more forwards than he had before, he picked up the coffee and sipped it slowly, balancing the underside of it in the palm of his hand carefully as they sat in a brief moment of silence...

Maverik. A man he respected deeply, a man that all at the same time he wouldn't hesitate to lunge at across the table, if only to see if his friend was still as fast as he had once been and could still hold the candle he had in the past...At the same time however, whilst the desire to fight Maverik remained the same, the intensity within him to do so had gradually dwindled over the last year, with the realisation that he was now, in every respect of the word, a free man. Nothing bound him, he could do as he chose, and he now had the means and ability to do anything he could ever dream of without fighting for it...

But for all that stayed his fighting nature, he would have been lying to say that Maverik wasn't the one person that could fuel it. However, as he listened to him he leaned back once again, tilting the cup back for a light sip and smirking at the remark, shrugging his shoulders loosely and snickering quietly...

"Yeah, Kira...I guess after all the time I spent second-guessing myself on it I decided it was time to stop denying it, both to myself and to her..."

His words dwindled off somewhat as Maverik continued on, his voice breaking in a soft chuckle at the remark of his changed name, calming to pay heed at the remark that followed....Calm, however, was not really the word to describe him. He was not, by any means, going to start being overjoyed and giving a song and dance for the matter. He was too taciturn for such a thing and it was obvious to both of them, but he was happy enough to snort lightly, chuckling a moment...

"I see you have been busy then...I would normally ask if you're aware of what you're letting yourself in for, but I'm sure that's a moot point. As for being your childs godfather, the mere fact you have to question whether I would do such a thing makes me wonder whether I should reach across this table and smack you upside your empty head..."

Smirking faintly, he sipped down another mouthful of the coffee, setting it back on the table and glancing back up with the same calm, honest smile as before...

"You're my best friend, Maverik. I would consider it an honour to do it...Congratulations, and all that stuff."

Shifting slowly in his chair, flicking his wrist and bringing the sleeve of his shirt up to reveal his watch, he glanced at it with a dry, slow smirk...

"Y'know, coffee isn't exactly the drink of choice for celebration, and I know a good bar who have a happy hour in ten minutes...You think you can handle it?"

[Maverik]

Maverik was, to say the least, happy with his old friends response. But to be more accurate he was relieved. It had been a long time since he had seen the man, but their friendship hadn’t diminished at all in that time. The offer was accepted, and Maverik finally felt a small sense of relief. Kazuki looked to his watch and a familiar smirk spread across his lips.

“Can I handle it? After all these years you ought to know that any time, any place I will drink you under the table” He told the Asian man, a smirk crossing his lips. He nocked back the rest of his coffee in one gulp, ignoring the scolding liquid as he often did. “Now lets go see what happens when we consume a depressant so soon after an accelerant” He grinned as he stood out of his chair.

The two friends left the coffee store and headed towards the bar that Kazuki had mentioned, walking as it was only a block or so away. “So why San Francisco? Why come here of all places? You’re not exactly tied to the students anymore. You could have gone anywhere you wanted.” Maverik mused to his friend. It seemed that so many people followed the students here, and it intrigued him greatly. What was it about this place that drew so many Varronites here. He was still trying to work out why the students had been drawn here in the first place… Much less anyone else.

[Director Troutman]

ooc: Too lazy to switch accounts, but you get the picture ^^;

ic:

"Aaah, but you speak of times when I was young and foolish, not to mention couldn't hold my liquor..."

The smirk he fired back was jovial and pleasant as he matched Maveriks action, tilting back his cup and finishing the last mouthful of coffee left in it...Unlike the scalding beverage in his friends cup, his was cooled enough to down without any risk of burns. Setting the cup back down with a mild clatter, he dropped a $10 on the table and set the saucer his coffee had come on atop it, pinning it down and glancing over his shoulder with a light, friendly wave. Setting the book under his arm as he caught up with Maverik on his way out the door, he stopped a moment at the parking meter his car was set at.

'I'm glad I broke that note beforehand...'

Dropping something close to five dollars in quarters into the machine, he ensured his car would not get towed anytime soon, if at all, until the late afternoon tomorrow. Unlocking the door and flopping the book onto the passengers side seat, he stepped back, using the outside of his heel to shunt the door closed once again, locking it with a click of the fob and pocketing his keys.

The walk was short enough, but conversation was apparently the top of the list as questions were dropped on him very quickly, smiling at one of them, he nodded faintly before giving his response, waiting a moment or two until they entered the bar. Taking a seat at an unoccupied table, he skimmed over a specials list in front of him, smirking at the impressive list of shooters before tossing it to Maveriks side, leaning back and folding his arms over his chest...

"By the end of the evening, we'll have cleared that list along with everything else....Anyway, moving on, and to answer your questions....", Setting forward against the table, resting his chin on the crook of his hands as he spoke, he shrugged lightly, offering a small response to one of them...

"Why not?"

The moment of puzzlement on his friends face would be answered as he pressed on, continuing his answer...

"To explain...I'll be honest, I don't really know anything else. After the Edge was destroyed, I'd lost pretty much everything in New York. People were asking too many questions about it, I decided it was time to get away...I heard that a bulk of the students were coming this way, took the chance that some of the old group would be in them and struck lucky on it. Besides, this place has fantastic shopping for Rocco, good bars for Rene, and, well...Kira was here, you can work out the rest, I'm sure...."

[Leon Loire]

The afternoon had been slow - a quiet Saturday, something that kept many happy and some rather bored. To a particular High School student, the day was something luxurious, comforting; he would be able to finally take a breather from chaos of school work, ambition, and most of all, life itself.

Leaning forward on a tough wooden stool nearby the pub's welcoming bar, Leon Loire kept his left hand gripping an unfolded piece of newspaper and another loosely gripping a cold glass of beverage - Dr. Pepper, of course. While he was perfectly legal to drink, die for his country, and vote for a President, he certainly was not obliged to do so. It was a nice thought to act more like a student, and so he kept to something that allowed his mental processes to run without end.

As his neighbors watched and cheered for a 49ers football game being played on the nearby television screen, Loire's eyes were to a specific article in the deepest reaches of the newspaper he held. On page B-11, hidden in the far right corner lay a small black-and-white image of four or five men in political attire as they marched down a stretch of land near the Capitol Building.

At the center point of the film shot strolled the subject at hand - Senator Ghai Metharom - whose crisp sable suit forged a clear definition of his form, regardless of the picture's low quality. His brown-black hair loosely flung across his forehead, unable to hide his intense ebony glare and wild grin of victory. Standing directly to his left, a smile of his own shown, walked a slightly older man of brunette locks and bright sapphire eyes - of course, Leon only knew by experience, not the image - whose step was calmer, more calculated, less radical. His name was known to Leon Loire as "L," but the article itself named him as "a J. Luken."

For some reason, Loire felt as if that name was incorrect; after all, "Luken?" Who'd name themselves that?

Regardless, the article was nothing terribly special to anyone that did not have the taste for politics, particularly that of the rising Liberal Movement in Congress. The actions of Senator Metharom had startled a significant filibuster recently in the CPS Committee room, an action that resulted in several Conservatives critics demanding an apology. Senator Metharom offered none, and according to witnesses, Mr. "Luken" was seen laughing at the thought.

'An interesting bunch...'

Regardless, Leon dropped the article back down after finishing his comedical enjoyment of the Right-winged journalist's editorial perspective of the "unpredictable" left. Another sip was drawn, and Leon Loire couldn't help but find himself distracted as a familiar pair of voices began to echo in the steps behind him.

'Hey, if you want wild men, you should come to San Francisco.'

Kicking off from the bar lightly and calmly turning towards the sight of the two arrivals, Leon filled his throat again with the chilled soda and sighed in satisfaction. A grin spread over his lips, and grabbing the newspaper, he motioned forward, grabbing a nearby chair with his right foot and anchoring it towards the end of the booth where both "Taiku Akimoto" and Maverik sat themselves.

"Booze as always? I must say, if I ever see the two of you with anything else, I'll have to be in some Christian camp." Loire commented, sitting back down slowly and glancing to the two momentarily; he wasn't exactly ready to sit. He had to guarantee he was invited.

"Seat taken, or are you simply not in the mood to have an inexperienced kid at your competition of liquor?"

[Maverik]

Maverik smirked as Kazuki threw him the shooter list with his sly comment. “We’ll see who can back up their words old man” He had to laugh at this comment. Kazuki was no more that a year older than himself, perhaps not even that much, but he had always seemed older than Maverik in the way he handled himself. To be honest, Maverik had always felt that the day Kazuki took over Li’s and created The Edge was the day that he had left his rival behind in the way of things. They were now living in two completely different worlds. But Maverik would be damned if he wasn’t going to bridge that gap whenever he had the chance.

Maverik handed the waitress back the menu and grinned. “Just bring us 4 of the first lot, and when we’re done with those, send out 4 of the next ones on the list. Keep going till we’re out, or the list is” He smirked at his old friend. “2 shots of each drink… Think you can keep up?” He winked, and soon enough his attention was averted by the sound of another familiar voice. “You kidding me? We’d be into the sacramental wine” He replied sarcastically. “Sit! We can all catch up!” He said happily, leaning back in his seat and grinning. “Today is a good day” He added, looking at the ceiling.

As if on cue, a tray came out baring 4 strait shots of Russian Vodka, and the waitress placed 2 in front of Maverik, and then Kazuki. “Your drinks boys” She said with a smile and a somewhat seductive wink. Maverik snickered somewhat, resisting the urge to start an argument over who was winked at. They were both otherwise engaged in that department, and so it probably wasn’t the best thing to do.

“Leon my man… How the hell are you?” Maverik asked happily. “Still chasing after Kira? Kaz over here isn’t known to be as subtle a rival as I was so you best keep your wits about you” He said with a wink. “I assume you’re already well informed on my current situation. Knowing you, it wouldn’t have been beyond your notice that there was something different about Xian before she left the school.” He then locked eyes with Kazuki and gripped his shot glass between his fingers and thumb. “Down the hatch!” He proclaimed as he knocked back the clear fiery liquid.

[Kazuki Akimoto]

"Old man, huh? I've barely got a year on you and you're calling me the old man? This coming from the soon-to-be father....It'll be slippers and a pipe by the end of the year for you Maverik..."

The constantly flowing quips between the two made it seem that they'd almost never parted ways over the years. He was mentally far older than Maverik, considering he had forced himself to grow up far and beyond his years in the time he had spent since arriving at Varron, but even though the two had separate lives and manners of living them...Times like these were the ones that made up for that difference. He had a massive alcohol tolerance now, and if nothing else it would be amusing to see how Maverik would react to seeing the older male pace him for the best part of this afternoon...

"Two shots of each? You're in a hurry, I figure you'll want me to book a cab for you to get home to the missus before she gives you hell, Maverik?" He fired straight back, raising an eyebrow as he flipped open his wallet, pulling out one of his credit cards and sliding it across the table in front of the waitess. "Hold onto that, odds are by the end of this, it'll be much easier for you to have it to hand...."

Her faint smile at the gesture was accented by a nod as she fished up the credit card, taking it with her before he turned to Maverik once more, smirking. "It's one of those promo-cards I got sent in the mail. They ask customers with good credit to try them out, no interest and all that crap, but they only give you something around a thousand dollars on it. Hell if I was handing over the Platinum...". Giving a wide grin at the remark, he glanced over his shoulder at Leon as he approached and wisecracked on their drinking, shrugging his shoulders with a wry snicker.

"I don't know, you think he could keep up with a pair of old drunks like us Mav....?"

Raising his eyebrow somewhat sharply at Leon, it quickly faded to a smile as he rolled his eyes, shunting out the chair to his side with a knock of his leg and smirking. "If you're going to stand, you can go and help the barmaid....For that matter, Dr. Pepper, or something with a bit more bite?"

He would ask Leon his choice of beverage as the waitress returned with their glasses, setting them down with a subtle, soft attempt at seduction...Shrugging it off, he raised an eyebrow as he thought to himself that she was a waitress. She worked for tips, she needed customers to love her, if only for the night. Besides, his eyes were more focused elsewhere, a look of mild disbelief on them as Maverik began to fire off remarks about Kira to Leon...Blinking slightly, Taiku could only lower his head over the glasses in front of him. He and Leon, well, things weren't quite fixed in that area yet to say the least. At least, he had decided that until further notice, simply letting the subject remain unspoken was perhaps the wisest choice all around....

'Good God, Mav...Tact of a fucking herd of elephants, eh?'

Regardless, as the glass was raied at him, he plucked one of the two up, his eyes calm and complacent as his friend set about the psyche-up, waiting for him to react before throwing back the strong liquor with a slow, calm exhalation, his eyes blinking once or twice in reaction to the taste...He wasn't a fan of vodka, to say the least. More accurately, he loathed it with a passion. As a whole, he tended to mix it with other spirits in drinks to nullify it's awful taste...Flicking up the shot-list, he gave a relieved sigh when he saw the next. Flaming B52's...

Sighing with a defeated smirk, he raised up his second glass to toss it back, giving a raised eyebrow in Leons direction before doing so....

"This is gonna get messy, just so you know. Ever seen what happens when Maverik and I have drinking contests?", he grinned widely at the remark, a subtle hint that things were soon to get....Interesting, was a choice word for it.

[Leon Loire]

Loire grinned proudly to be accepted to the drinking table, even if he already expected it. Kazuki Shinato and Maverik were a pair of Varronites that held much esteem about them, and even Leon Loire could not help but feel a bit of belittlement from their experiences - regardless of how much he had lived himself.

Nodding to Maverik in thanks as he welcomed him to sit, Loire's eyes smiled back at Taiku when he noted the Dr. Pepper still held in the younger's left hand, "No thanks gramps, if I wanted some buzz I'd tip in a bit of rum to go with this cola. Besides, I've got the strange feeling," Leon added as his eyes sideglanced the oncoming shots, "That the two of you will need a designated driver. May as well be me, huh?"

About to take a sip of his own sober beverage, Leon's ears picked up Maverik mention something so frighteningly serious to his mind in such a casual manner that his entire face soon found itself stiff in surprise, a bit of blush rising over his cheeks and the receivers of the notice instantly burning at the thought.

'Jesus, did he say that on purpose?'

Leon stared at the floating ice inside his dark half-empty drink for a moment, then smirked in black humor, "Love can go to hell for all I care." Leon spoke out rather rashfully before taking a swig from his glass, placing the clear object on the table above and sighing in satisfaction, "Recent politics have been rather chaotic lately, and minor teenage issues come second to the liberty of my fellows. Besides, I've got a date coming up that kind of cancels out any hopes with Karyuudo, but whatever."

Leon realized that his wordplay would probably save himself from the momentary snap he had made. Yes, he was a bit angry with the situation and the statement; he hated to be reminded of the fact of his weakened attraction to Kira Karyuudo, and the fact that Kazuki Shinato had complicated the situation only made him feel more irritated. Of course, while this was his greedy desires clearly talking, his own conscious had been so exhausted by the fear of the inevitable confrontation of July the 4th and the recent matters with Mason, Kvist and the Pillars to really stand a chance in arguing with a vent.

Still, Leon suspected the two listeners would stay silent - especially since they would most likely misinterpret what Leon meant by "date."

Leon's intelligent side was relieved then when Taiku tried to take the subject off of a woman they were - according to Maverik's jest - grudging over like an object. Smirking at the thought of the two men in front of him in a drunken stupor, Leon couldn't help but snicker quite brightly, this time more genuinely than before towards Mav's statement, "I should have brought my camera, huh? I could have made a good deal of green Franklins on the two of you."

Leon let his grin sit on his face as he took another drink, watching as the two men started their contest. Waiting for Maverik to finish his own shots, Loire looked to him with a curious question, "I honestly haven't seen Tong around school though; the grading barrier kind of hurts any chance I have of even meeting her. So if you don't mind me asking, what is it?"

[Shamino Warhen Ph.D]

The door bursted open, and the people sitting up at the bar stopped drinking to take a look at the new patrons. Shamino wore a lengthy white jacket that went down to his shins, which he wore draped over his shoulders. Six men followed suit, filling up the last of the stools and two of them taking a small table near the entrance. However, Shamino didnt stop as they seemed to take positions. Instead he stopped in the dead center of the bar counter, inbetween two large Italian men. He leaned inwards, both shoulders on the table.

"You said the bar would be closed." Shamino said, staring down idly at his watch. "I mean, business doesn't really kick in till six, seven. We had business."

"Business is right here." The bartender said, waving a mug around at the nearly full bar. "So the boss thought it could wait a day."

"The boss of yours never brought it up with me." Shamino said irritably, his gazing moving from the swiss watch on his left wrist to the bartender's face. The man behind the counter seemed apathetic. Shamino shrugged off his jacket, and a large man behind him grabbed it and placed it under his arm, pocketing the hand as to keep it from falling. Shamino placed white-gloved hands on his temples, rolling in a counter clockwise motion. "Go get him."

"Man, its a bar. He could be anywhere- the stripclub on center, or the garage on..."

"I don't give a damn what clichè mob-run piece of shit he's at. You should have his number, give him a call."

"I don't." The Bartender said with mock disappointment. "But tell ya what, kid. If you run off and come back t'MARROW, i'm sure he'll be here to say hi to you."

Shamino looked to the left, then the right, the two patrons quietly looking back. Without looking forward, Shamino grabbed the Bartender by the back of the head and smashed his forehead clean off the oak table. He fell back against a coffee machine, and slumped down. Pushing a patron's head down, he stared at a table. Leon He thought, his eyes straining slightly to notice him through the light.

[Maverik]

As Kazuki downed his second shot, so too did Maverik. He liked Vodka. It had a hard taste, had a bite to it too, and was such a basic drink, that he always found it a good one to start with. Both Kazuki and Leon tried to mask their irritation over the subject rather poorly and Maverik frowned slightly “Guess we’re not laughing about that yet” He said somewhat sombrely. Kazuki soon changed the subject however, and the table’s mood was refreshed.

“I don’t think a camera could do it justice. Now a camcorder…” He grinned cheesily as he pushed the two empty shot glasses out of the way to make room for the B52’s. “Leave the empty ones. It’s just not a contest without proof of the track so far” He told the waitress with a wink. He grabbed one and fired the fiery liquid down, noting it’s interesting taste. Without a word he downed the second before pausing and announcing his decision. “I like it” He said simply as he looked at the menu. “Seem’s we’ve got TKO’s coming up next…” He said with some reserved judgement. He had never been a fan… But he had to admit that they were one hell of a powerful drink.

The sudden sound of a face cracking against the bench of the bar reached Maverik’s ears, and his eyes picked up the very distinct figure of Shamino Warhen. He seemed to pick Leon out of the crowd, but why was anyone’s guess. And it was likely that everyone was guessing, as the whole room was now looking towards the short man. “Doesn’t he know how to be subtle anymore?” Maverik asked in a low voice, a slight downward twist in his lips evident. “Now how the hell are we supposed to get our drinks…” He added with a sigh.

Maverik was probably the first in the room to look back to his own table, but slowly, he was followed by the rest of the room, including the band that had frozen with everyone else. It wasn’t exactly a tough bar, but this was San Francisco, and Maverik guessed that people here were used to these sorts of dealings anyway. Even their waitress seemed to recover from the shock, helping the bartender into a more comfortable position before getting another of the girls to work on the drinks. “Any idea why he’s eying you there Leon?” Maverik asked rather simply as he cradled his now empty shot glass.

[Leon Loire]

For a moment Loire felt a strange aggravation with Maverik; not only had he blatantly attempted to remind Kazuki and Leon of a rather... awkward situation, but he also suddenly found more interest in Shamino Warhen then a rather important question he had asked him.

'Perhaps he's simply distracted... whatever. If he wishes to ignore me over his drinks, so be it.'

Leon glanced back at Warhen with a keen curiosity of his own. It had been interesting enough that Shamino Warhen suddenly arrived. It made things very interesting when a bartender suddenly found his skull against a hard surface. What surprised Loire was not the fact Shamino suddenly noticed him, but rather, that he did not seem to notice Kazuki Shinato or Maverik as of yet.

'Perhaps it's the lighting? Perhaps I should check...'

Sending a glance to Taiku, Leon placed his Dr. Pepper down on the table and stood up, nodding to the two men, "I'll be back in a moment, I need to see if I can help keep this matter... hushed. You two enjoy your drinks, and don't dirty your clothes too much with your drool." Leon grinned at the two and turned on his heel, calmly passing over to the bar and leaning against its surface, before smirking at the man sleeping against the near by wall.

"You're always one for vivid entrances Warhen." Leon noted, turning his eyes to the blond man beside him, their build still relatively similar, even if their fashion choices were far different, "Mind if I ask what sort of impression you were hoping to make?"