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 Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2017 6:27 pm
Merric flushed, more out of embarrassment than anything else. After a long moment, he slowly lowered his hands to rest atop Melvin's.
He really, really wanted another drink.
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Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2017 6:28 pm
He was glad for it, and he looked back over at him. "Now take a deep breath."
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Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2017 6:36 pm
Merric took the required breath, ignoring the derisive snort that came from Rinzler in the process.
"Why? What are you doing?"
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Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2017 6:40 pm
"Just a few more times. I said a minute, right." He watched him, and took a breath with him.
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Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2017 6:45 pm
He had indeed said a minute.
Merric, still red faced, reluctantly took another few breaths.
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Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2017 6:53 pm
He could feel the tension there even as Merric's complexion reddened.
"Why are you so tense?" He finally asked.
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Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2017 6:54 pm
He did not want to answer that question, mostly because everyone kept asking it.
"I'm not tense," said Merric. Tensely.
There was a long pause.
"I'm just...not used to any of this."
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Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2017 7:01 pm
"You're not used to eating at a restaurant?" He followed up, feeling the same tension.
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Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2017 7:04 pm
Merric's flush deepened.
"Not that," he said, in a stifled tone, in spite of the fact that he rarely ever ate with other people in general. "I meant...you. Whatever it is that you want. And...touching. I don't understand what it is that this is supposed to do, unless you intend to remind me of last time."
He hadn't meant to bring that up, either, Merric inwardly cursing.
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Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2017 7:11 pm
"I wanted you to relax and take a breath, and focus on something other than - whatever it was which sadly seems to be me. I'm sorry." He slid his hands away and took a deep drink of his whiskey, deciding he would also finish it.
He set the glass at the end as a signal to the waiter for a refresher before looking back at Merric. "And all I want right now is to talk was to just talk and enjoy good company over good food."
He watched him. "Are you against touching?"
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Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2017 7:17 pm
Merric was visibly relieved to have his hands back, mostly because without them, he was forced into paying entire attention to Melvin, and that was hard. His empty glass was nudged to the edge of the table alongside the other's, also for a refill.
And now he felt ashamed of himself. Merric's flush was less embarrassment now and more the realization that if he kept this up, he'd likely make no friends at all here on the island. Or continue to antagonize the few that he did, even if Melvin wasn't even really a friend.
"I'm not averse to it," said Merric, after a long moment where he tried to get himself calm again. "I just...am not used to it. It's not something I have much experience in at all, so I feel less inclined to participate if it's not something that I can put my full abilities into."
He was looking down at his hands. "I find it...a little difficult to let go so completely of my own thoughts."
Also known as: relaxing was hard.
Very hard.
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Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2017 7:41 pm
"Well you just need a bit more exposure. Little touches here and there. I'll be sure to help, though maybe you should try it a little more on your own terms. We're very social creatures, and touching is a part of that." He said, excusing his own desires just to get away with more and more with the man. It was easy to rationalize things while also reaping any minor rewards from the results.
"I get into my head a lot too. It comes from analyzing, which isn't a bad thing. Active minds are great for problem solving and work, but can run the wheels when you don't want them to. Drinking helps with that." He said as a joke as the waiter came to set two more glasses, filled, and removed the other two. Since the bar wasn't busy, the service was pretty great.
"You knock down whiskey like it's nothing. Any favorite brands?" He said, taking a sip again.
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Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2017 7:53 pm
He had had a great deal of exposure to more than just touching at the dare night, but that was another thing that Merric was resolutely not thinking of. He gave Melvin a brief glance, then said, "I don't necessarily doubt that. People here seem to be...very close with one another, in one way or another."
Like everything he wasn't thinking of. Merric reached blindly for the second glass of whisky and tossed it back much as he had the first, coughing again, this time a little more, as the alcohol sizzled down his throat. He could feel the warmth of it spreading through his lungs, expanding in his chest, filtering through his veins.
"I have a very active mind," he said hoarsely. "And no, I don't have any favorite brands, I..."
He didn't know what to say to that. Merric cleared his throat.
"I don't drink much, as a general rule."
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Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2017 8:05 pm
"Oh really." Melvin glanced at the bartender who noticed the now empty glass Merric had, before the Life hunter looked back at him. "Well you drink like a pro."
"People appear close and talk a big game. Don't put too much stock into how much touching actually happens. Also, I'm saying that the more friendly touching is more rare these days. It's one thing to save your fellow hunter from the Sahara, but when it comes to just giving them a pat on the back, there is less supply. Was your family the type to hug a lot?" He said, drinking half of his drink to encourage Merric to keep at his pace, but knowing fully well that as a whiskey enthusiast, he could hold his a lot better. Being alone also helped his tolerance from weekly visits to the bar.
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Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2017 8:14 pm
Merric managed a small - very small - smile that was nonetheless a little strained. He liked the burn and heat of the whiskey; it was much easier to stop focusing on things that he had no control over, or things that he couldn't do anything about.
Such as everything - and everyone - he was currently avoiding thinking of.
Merric frowned a little. "I've seen a lot of people that seem to be...close," he said, mind going back to the desert scenario with admittedly some reluctance because of the centipedes. "Is it all just for show, then?"
The question about his family made his heart crash against his chest. Merric took a painful breath and looked away, fingers curling too tightly around the glass in his hand.
"No," he said stiffly. "No, they weren't."
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