[FIN] Coffee Catch-up

[BlackFireKitsune]

And he didn't even have to wait to find out! Abel shot his friend a broad grin as he appeared in the doorway. "Don't worry about it, it sounds like it was quite the troublemaker! Glad you beat it though."

Idly he rubbed his thumb over Zev's shoulder, his grin softening to a quiet smile. He was right, it was thanks to Dith too that he was better now, though he didn't think his boyfriend would bring it up. Perhaps he should've expected the subject to come up at least indirectly though, given how recent it still was and the fact that was the last time they'd seen Dith. Speaking of... "I'm doing well too thanks, and I agree! It's good to see you outside the hospital for once." It did not look good - at all - when the last few times they'd seen him was because one or the other of them had been injured somehow. Definitely didn't look good in the slightest; oh well. "How've you been doing? And you have a nice place, by the way. I like the sword," he added, inclining his head towards it a little bit. Of all the things he could use as wall decor, a sword was pretty badass.  

[TawnyAngel]

Dith shrugged and sat down in his favourite chair, he wasn't going to object to not having to make the tea after the angst of the last couple of hours! "Blackhand is a terrible, horrible, no good very bad boss; especially when your healer keeps forgetting to get into cover when he's Marked for Death!" he said with a laugh and a shake of his head. "Three times we wiped because of that and nearly the last time too, but I managed to pick up the healing for his last sliver of health even though I'm a protection paladin, and Sheena pulled off some amazing tanking somehow with her hunter and jormungar pet. I really have to get one of those... Ahhh... and you have no idea what I'm talking about do you?" Dith laughed at himself, shook his head and gestured vaguely. "The short version is we kicked arse, eventually." Also they'd got some great loot and the achievements they'd wanted but that was also probably too much information for non-nerds.

"And yes, it is! I was starting to think that was the only place I'd see you, Abel." Dith's tone was amused and his smile was wry but worry still niggled away at the back of his mind, those things Zevran had said and how often Abel and those close to him seemed to have 'bad luck'.... But both were well now, that was the main thing. "Oh and that," Dith gestured proudly to the blade, "is a replica of the Master Sword, with its Ocarina of Time appearance. That was an expensive nerdy self-gift that I don't regret in the least! It is a nice place too," Dith glanced around with a small smile and shrugged as he turned back to Abel and Zev; "Despite things like that sword I've never really had an expensive lifestyle, so when I decided to settle here in Kodo I thought I might as well have somewhere nice to live. It's a bit big just for me really, but now Ada is here too it's just about perfect."

Nerdy was right! Zevran tried to follow the bit about fighting Blackhand and failed, and he also had no idea what Ocarina of Time was, but he had to agree that it was a pretty sword. "Ah, well one has to treat oneself sometimes no?" he said with a grin. "If I had the money to do so I would buy myself all manner of frivolous things, including nice apartments to share with interesting people!" He made it sound as though Ada lived here as some kind of roommate but she was bipedal and capable of making both tea and conversation, that made her more qualified to be a room ate than some people he'd met.  

[BlackFireKitsune]

Even though he had no idea what Dith was going on about, Abel smiled and did his best to follow along regardless, because it was nice being able to sit and talk to Dith in a casual setting and chatting about simple things, not being in the hospital discussing negative or even frightening things. Either way though the thing sounded difficult, and like it required quite a bit of coordination with other people... and like something he wouldn't particularly enjoy. No, he much preferred going out and doing things to sitting at home in front of a screen playing a game for hours on end.

Ahh, and there it was. Now that he'd expected. This wasn't the first time Dith had expressed much the same thing, but hopefully it would be the last, now that Alyssa was gone and, he sincerely hoped, the Crows wouldn't bother Zevran again. "Nope, not a thing," he admitted readily. "It sounds complicated, but at least you beat him. And I know," Abel admitted as his smile turned distinctly sheepish, "but that's why we're here, yeah? Thanks for having us over, by the way. Oh, we brought some snacks over too, before I forget," he added because he almost did forget, and gestured to the bag he left on the coffee table. "We brought some stuff Zev made, but picked up some stuff on the way over too so there's plenty to go around." It wouldn't do to be the bearer of snacks and not bring enough snacks!

"And I don't know that game either, but I can understand why you bought it, it looks really cool." Plus, again, he couldn't help but think it was pretty badass to use a sword as wall decor in an apartment. "I... hm. I don't know what I'd buy. I've never really been too interested in buying frivolous stuff, or decorating much." His poor apartment that had hardly any decoration for years, with or without Alyssa, attested to that fact.  

[TawnyAngel]

"You haven't?" Zevran laughed, grinned mischievously at Abel as he helped to unpack the snacks. "Well that is fortunate, you won't object to my ideas. Balcony hot tub, massage chairs," he started to tick items off on his fingers, "unreasonably large bed with custom mattress, bathtub carved out of a huge piece of quartz, voice controlled colour changing lights, expensive pretentious art that I can pretend to understand.... Oh, and a home cinema with one of those enormous curved screens for movie nights."

"Ah, snacks! Perfect!" Dith exclaimed with obvious enthusiasm and helped himself to the first thing Zevran fetched out. "Raiding is hungry work. And I don't know about a curved TV but I did put a paddling pool on my balcony in the heatwave last summer if that counts?" he grinned at Zevran and Abel and waved his snack. "No bubbles, and not very deep, but still fun. And you're welcome." This was said with a softer smile and a nod to Abel. "It's nice to have friends around from outside work or the KSO, between the two things I don't see much of the real world these days." He didn't have much time for games either really, this morning had been the first time in a week he'd managed to log on. There were only so many hours in the day though, he had to prioritize... He did love his job but sometimes he wished he worked a more normal number of hours. Something to think about? Maybe.

"And as I've not been in the real world very much I haven't really been keeping up with you; what have you been up to, besides planning extravagant apartments that is?" Dith grinned and winked, and he exaggerated the gesture a little so that it was obvious that it was a wink; although he didn't know Zevran at all he felt pretty safe in referring to them as a unit given how they were sitting together.  

[BlackFireKitsune]

The more things Zevran listed off, the wider Abel's grin grew until at least he chuckled and shook his head as he leaned forward to help himself to a snack too. "Those are all excellent ideas, but unfortunately we can't afford any of them. That's a good idea though," he gestured vaguely toward Dith with his snack, "if we can find a new place with a balcony I'll buy you a little pool like that you can lounge in during the summer, how's that? I'll even serve you drinks if you want!" Drinks and plenty of kisses. It'd be a good place for a radio too, probably.

After he popped the bit of food into his mouth, chewed and swallowed it he nodded towards Dith again with a smile. "It sounds like you're always busy with something or other, I'm glad we could hang out today though. We should try and do stuff like this more often -- maybe go out for lunch or dinner next time, maybe? Mmh, well we went to visit my parents for two weeks a few weeks ago - Taavi came too, he's moved out into his own apartment since then though with a new roommate - and since my lease is up soon we're looking into moving into a bigger place, preferably one with a balcony -- among other things."  

[TawnyAngel]

"Ohh, a little pool and a sexy butler?" Zevran's devilish grin grew even more-so and he gave Abel's waist a squeeze and kissed his jaw. "I think I could live without the other things if I had that. Only if he is very sexy you understand."

Dith choked a little on his pretzel pieces and wondered not for the first time just what to think of Zevran; he was funny, clearly without shame, and clearly comfortable in his skin... But he couldn't forget how the man had laughed at the idea of people taking his clothes off when he was drugged.

"I'm okay!" Dith gasped as he swallowed and wiped his eyes. "Don't do that to me! Gah! Anyway! Maybe we can go out to celebrate your new home together then?" Dith's single keen golden eye danced from Abel, to Zevran, and then back to the two of them. "Quite a big occasion, it definitely deserves a meal out. My treat? Moving is expensive, and I got to be lazy this time in having you come to me."  

[BlackFireKitsune]

"Ha! I see; I'll try and find a sexy one for you then," Abel countered with what he'd intended to be a smirk but came out as a bit more of a daft grin than anything else. Ahh, how did he ever get so lucky?

"You sure you're alright?" He asked next, turning a more concerned, almost hesitant smile towards Dith. Choking on snacks was never any fun, although he wondered if doing so because you'd laughed at something funny made it a little better. "You don't need to pay for us though, it'd be great just to go have dinner or something together." It didn't particularly matter to him that moving was expensive - or could be, depending - or who got to be lazy this time around or not.  

[TawnyAngel]

"On that I can make no promises," Zevran replied to Dith, cheerfully remorseless at having nearly choked him. "I cannot help being hilarious, or having high standards. I will try not to make you choke in public though, that is a concession I can manage! I wouldn't wish to ruin our dinner out." He then turned to Able and winked. "I think I know just the man for the job. I hope he likes the uniform." Hopefully Abel's gentle refusal of Dith's offer to pay would be sufficient, he didn't like the idea of being in the big man'd debt even if he didn't see it that way himself.

"I'm sure!" Dith assured Abel with a laugh and a final clearing of his throat. "Obviously I'll have to be very careful about when I take a bite with you around Zevran, synchronised eating maybe?" If Abel didn't want him to pay that was no problem. "Why don't you choose where we go then? I don't eat out that much - a lot of places don't seem to be open when I want to eat - so about the only place I can recommend is Meat Palace." Dith grinned and shook his head. "The music's terrible but the food is great, if you like meat that is."  

[BlackFireKitsune]

For some reason, he couldn't help but think Dith wouldn't mind such a concession. Abel just hoped Zev didn't make him choke too badly... "Oh? A uniform? Dare I ask what it is? ...actually you know what, tell me later," he added, rescinding his previous question with a chuckle and fond shake of his head, "because I have a feeling I know what it is." His guesses mostly included 'nothing' and that definitely wasn't something Dith needed to hear about.

"That might be a good idea, although even that may not save you," Abel said, chuckling again as he thought of the myriad ways Zevran could almost assuredly make someone laugh without even saying a word. Mention of Meat Palace, of all places, had his chuckle bubble up into a laugh despite himself. "Sad to say even though I like meat I'll have to pass on Meat Palace on principle," he informed his friend with a wry grin. "That's where Taavi used to work before some a*****e customer got him fired; I'd feel bad giving them any of my money after that. We can figure out somewhere though, maybe even somewhere open at odd hours."  

[TawnyAngel]

"Oh I will tell you later, in detail." Zevran smirked and gave Abel a squeeze. "Not that it will take very long." Not very long at all! Ah, and then Abel gave him another great gift, handed it to him on a platter really. Zevran's smirk got smirkier. "Oh, I know how much you like meat Abel. I'm sure we can find somewhere to satisfy you!"

Dith, who had been about to eat more snacks, gave a bark of laughter and gestured at Zevran. "You're terrible! How am I supposed to eat anything with you around?" He could see why Abel liked him, they'd never be short on humour! Filthy humour. Shaking his head Dith turned back to Abel with a sympathetic smile, which was for Taavi really but the young man wasn't here to receive it. "Ah and I didn't know that about Meat Palace, perhaps I'll have to find somewhere else to eat out. There must be somewhere in the city besides there that sells oversized portions of ribs."

"And perhaps oversized sausage too?" Zevran suggested slyly.  

[BlackFireKitsune]

"Hah, I didn't think it would," Abel countered with a smirk of his own, though it promptly shifted to a grin as he laughed before returning the squeeze both because he wanted to, and so he could more easily plant a kiss atop his head. "I agree, you are absolutely terrible." Absolutely, wonderfully terrible, and he loved him dearly. "It's true though, you'll have to be careful while eating with him around."

Taking the opportunity to grab another snack - despite the dangers of eating with his boyfriend around making such terrible innuendos - Abel hummed a little bit and nodded. "I'm not trying to talk you out of eating there ever again or anything, but yeah, we'll find somewhere that sells oversized ribs. Or sausages," he added alongside a smirk aimed at his boyfriend. "Dare I ask what other oversized meats you have in mind?" That was probably not a question he should ask, now he thought about it, but too little too late. Oh well!  

[TawnyAngel]

"Ah, I regret that sausage was the best one I had," Zevran replied with a sigh and a shake of his head. "I could say rump steak I suppose but let's not pretend that it is half so good a joke as the sausage was. Really, you simply cannot beat a good sausage. Or, well..." He smirked at Abel and then at Dith and left the sentence where it was.

Oh, sex jokes? Ada stepped back into the room with a soft huff of breath, a steaming kettle and a tin floating in the air beside her. Do carry on, I'm interested to see where this one goes, she added dryly as she headed over to fill the main section of the samovar with the bulk of the water before adding tea leaves and the remainder to the little teapot section on top.

Completely terrible! Dith groaned appreciatively and then shook his head with a grin as Ada entered. "Beating... You know, I don't think you do want to know Ada. At all. You'll be disgusted with humans all over again, or at least men." He then turned his grin onto Abel and Zev and suggested; "Meatballs? Too obvious?"  

[BlackFireKitsune]

Abel laughed; his face was starting to hurt from how wide he was grinning because really? "You're both terrible," he declared with a shake of his head and another chuckle. "I don't know how I can take you anywhere. Seen as you mention it though, no, a rump steak definitely won't be beating a sausage. And I agree with Dith," he went on, as if he hadn't just made the first half of such a joke, though he did watch as Ada filled up the various parts of the curious samovar, "you definitely don't want to know. Meatballs are a bit too obvious I think, but that's part of the fun though, isn't it?"  

[TawnyAngel]

Zevran laughed delightedly, and wickedly, and shook his head. "Ah, how could I miss meatballs? Sausage and meatballs, that's my idea of a good evening. Do you agree Abel? Dith? And what about you Ada?" Could pokemon be kinky? Perhaps he was about to find out.

Ada tsked and shook her head as she beckoned to a tray holding cups, milk, sugar, and honey which she'd left floating in the entry to the kitchen. I don't have gentiles, I thank that for having two grains of sense to rub together.

"Ahh, because you are not rubbing anything else together you can do so with grains of sense; I understand," Zevran said innocently.

Dith groaned and sank down in his chair a bit, grinning broadly and covering his eyes with one hand. "No no, no sausage and meatballs for me thank you. You're killing me!"  

[BlackFireKitsune]

"You already know my idea of a good evening is any evening with you in it," he stated matter-of-factly, although his broad grin and bright chuckling ran counter to the seriousness he was trying to go for. Oh well!

Poor Ada though, hopefully she didn't mind too much.

"Oh, not for you?" Abel echoed, eyebrows lifting a bit in innocent surprise. Huh, he'd thought perhaps he would, but apparently not! Not that it mattered to him much in the end, but it was still an interesting tidbit. Turning to his boyfriend, he slung his arm around his shoulders again and aimed a smirky grin at him. "Maybe we should stop, it'd be terribly rude if we accidentally killed our host -- especially before we've even had any tea or coffee!"