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How much -- Ever couldn't help the bubble of actual laughter that came out of him, glass halfway to his mouth, almost spluttered out a mouthful of vodka, and caught himself just in time. Still, he was left dabbing at the front of his shirt with a napkin, in a lazy and careless sort of way as he shook his head at Dustin.

"I'm unemployed, and still limping. My time's virtually worthless." A pause, at that. A moment's consideration. "No, my time is worthless. No one's paying me for this..."

"Uh. Simply, put, it's do-or-die." Ever tipped his chin up, squinting down at Dustin in a bemused manner. His own drink was still crooked in his hand, not quite spilling down his front again, shirt still damp. Maybe he'd already had more than one.

"Or, I guess, hide with your head in a hole, somewhere, but I think people would worry." He paused, at that, hesitant. "I think they are worried. Why they sent people searching."

"I didn't sign you up for s**t." He remembered himself all at once, and drank: one long, slow gulp that didn't quiet empty his glass before he set it down on the counter. Again, he pawed at his shirt. Still damp, obviously.

"In fact, I don't even think our side did. Weren't you already running around in a prissy sailor uniform, before we found you?" Zac had said something -- Ever should have listened up better. He hummed, tempted to smack Dustin upside the head for that eye roll. "We fight them. It's a war. What do you think?"

"Alive, alright, not freaking out too much." He squinted at Dustin, with that, his head tilted to the side and expression thoughtful. Ever was definitely a bit tipsy, and tipsy his young change seemed less young and more attractive. It made his eyes darker, thoughtful, fingertips strumming against the glass. It also made him more prone to flirting.

"Two out of three isn't bad." He drank, leaning a little bit in toward Dustan while he thought about it.

"And you're not even out on the street, or sleeping on a park bench, or in the ******** subway." This came with a hint of disgust behind it -- familiar disgust. Ever had been there. More than once, in fact. He shook his head. "I'm not going to haul you in while you're managing, however you're managing, but I can give you...well, I can give you Zed's number and address, so you can come around and find me if you need anything."

He set down the empty glass, and raised his eyebrows. "Got a pen?"

Ever hummed, nabbing the napkin and squinting down at it for a moment before he settled -- and set to writing down the name and address in his almost-disturbingly neat handwriting. It was 1800s handwriting. It was 'slap your fingers with a ruler until you get it right' script. His letters all angled in the same direction, tidy, and it looked effortless. Someone had done a number over on him.

"If you need anything, I'm there." He capped the pen decisively and nudged the napkin in toward Dustin, head cocked to the side. "I can run you around the rooftops if you want that, too. I'd say show you the ropes, but since I've been out of town for a good six months, I might not be the best at that..."

Of course, judging from Dustin's interactions thus far, maybe 'absent' was better than some of the alternativel. Ever shrugged. "Or whatever."

"Unless you're planning on running off again." It came out dry, with an eyebrow raised -- probably better not to. It'd mean Ever chasing him down again, and while that was better than most of his duties, it'd be a bit of a pain in the a**. He tapped the pen against the counter, eyes sliding past Dustin to the distracted bartender.

"I'm ducking out on my tab, here. You uh. Might want to ditch this place too." It came with a smile, as he looked back down at Dustin, and took two steps back.

"Anytime you want to come by." Another. Retreating back toward the door before the bartender came around again.