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 Posted: Sun Aug 27, 2017 7:33 pm
It seemed to Merric that he was doing a lot of visiting other people as of late, for a variety of reasons. To retrieve his clothing, to talk, to be forced into an impromptu session of counseling or something, to repay a favor or whatever the case may have been...
Needless to say, he wasn't pleased about having to go and see Al, but it wasn't like he could have avoided it.
Merric knocked on the door, a resigned look on his face.
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Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2017 3:42 pm
The door burst open and the wide grinning face of Al greeted Merric and immediately tried to grab him and haul him inside, "About damn time you showed up with the booze."
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Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2017 5:03 pm
Merric gave Al a startled look, trying to pull his arm away.
"What? Hey - stop dragging me in - "
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Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2017 5:54 pm
"Come onnn," Al coaxed as he unhanded Merric to run over and plop down in a beanbag chair beside a screen that was flashing vividly while music played. It had been set low, but Al cranked it right up just because Merric was there. "I was about to watch a movie by myself, but you and booze makes it a party!" There was a chance he'd already been drinking - or something.
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Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2017 5:14 pm
Merric eyed Al with a certain amount of suspicion.
"Are you all right? You seem as though you don't actually need any more alcohol, as a matter of fact." The loudness of the music was pounding in his ears. Or whatever it was that was on the screen, which Merric gave a confused glance towards.
"There is no party here, you just requested my presence, so here I am."
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Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2017 11:11 am
Upon inspection, it became apparent that Al was watching Little Shop of Horrors, not that the intro music wasn;t a dead give away after a few repetitions. Al pat the beanbag next to himself, "Perfectly fine, JOIN MEeee." Clearly in mock imitation of Audrey II. "I see snacks, booze, more than one person, and.." he jut his chin in the direction of the TV, "-music." "All things that make a party, now get your a** in here."
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Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2017 5:00 pm
Merric was still looking at Al but slowly inched his way to the beanbag and sank down into it. He looked absurdly awkward, sitting more on the edge of it than actually in it; it was entirely clear that Merric Cassel had never sat on a beanbag chair in his entire life and had no idea how to.
"This is not a party," Merric pointed out. "This is just two people, and one of them seems to be drunk."
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Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2017 5:53 pm
"M'no drunk!" Al contested and then reached over and gently placed a hand on Merric's forehead and puuuuuuushed him back into the chair. "But I might be about to be if you brought something nice," he peered at Merric's hands curiously.
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Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2017 6:01 pm
Al's hand was swatted away with fingers around his wrist as Merric attempted to pry him off. He had fallen back a little at the push, flailing slightly before he'd caught himself, and now he straightened, giving Al an annoyed look - for both that, and the question.
"I have one bottle, and it's only wine," he said. "I traded a shift for it, but I don't want to waste it."
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Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2017 6:30 pm
Al recovered his hand with an annoyed 'hm'. It sounded as though another song was playing now. "You really need to relax, my weapon keeps asking me about the size of the stick up your a**. I keep telling him I don't know but it doesn't shut him up for the next stuffy thing you say." He glanced at the beanbag chair clearly not still being fully enjoyed. "Or do." "Don;t say it like that, you make it sound like I'm turning my nose up at your wineee. Is it good wine?" He'd forgotten what good wine was like.
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Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2017 6:37 pm
Merric gave Al a somewhat outraged look, blushing hotly. "There is - that is nonsense," he said, trying to maintain some of his earlier attempts at remaining calm. "I am who I am, there's nothing - I don't have anything up - is it just because I'm more serious minded?"
He was becoming less and less capable of handling Al. Or even understanding him. Merric glanced down at the bottle of wine he held, then over at Al again, frowning.
"I've heard it's a relatively good vintage, I don't know much about alcohol, though."
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Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2017 6:44 pm
"For one, you're not even sitting in that the right way. Then I try to help you and you lash out at me for it." He sighed loud and exaggerated and gestured at the screen. "Have you even seen a movie before? Because I'm starting to think you haven't if you don't think this is a party." He reached out and wiggled his fingers at Merric, "Lemme see."
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Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2017 6:49 pm
"I did not lash out," said Merric indignantly. "I just - was startled, that's all."
And he did not appreciate being forced into this situation. Merric tried to make himself a little more comfortable, resisting the urge to get up and walk away right then and there if only because of the sheer premise of pride, however small and insignificant his might be.
"I have seen plenty of movies before, thank you," he said stiffly.
The wine was, somewhat reluctantly, passed over to Al for inspection. It was a red wine, a cabernet sauvignon.
"Don't drink it all."
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Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2017 7:17 pm
"Well you startle easy then," he replied while looking down at the offered bottle and carefully taking it. He turned it around in his hand to inspect the label in its entirety. "You guys downed two bottles of really expensive whiskey and you're going to b***h that I might drink too much of your wine?" He piffled and reached over to grab a plastic cup that was already used but based on smell, the contents were recent and soda in nature, and he filled it up and offered the cup to Merric. "Deep breaths. Relaxing a little wont kill you."
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Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2017 7:20 pm
"You make me sound like a horse," said Merric, a little irritably. "I do not startle easily, I just...dislike surprises. Or the unknown."
He was being unintentionally argumentative, which wasn't like him at all, but for some reason, he felt on edge; likely due, in part, to Al's needling. Merric gave Al another look of mild indignation and said, "You didn't have to bring both bottles of whiskey, did you? And isn't it easier for you to acquire alcohol? I'm only a trainee, it's not as simple."
He took the offered cup and peered into it, though he didn't drink just yet.
"Why is it that people are continuing to tell me to relax? I know how to relax."
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