[ to be fair, it's not even people within the organization he's concerned about. there's always a few rotten eggs waiting to get tossed, but his father is good at instilling loyalty. at making people feel valued-- wanted. ]
[ well, most people. ]
[ either way it's people on the outside he'd be more worried about, people who think they can prove the kings ain't shit by taking him down. ]
Coulda been bleeding out, no one's dumb enough to try shit when I'm flanked by a bunch of muscle.
[ he's been in his head about it too, but there's no explanation david can think of, not that that's anything new. his father acting with little to no explanation, sending him on work and then acting disappointed with the result. this is the most... egregious example for some time, but if he really thinks about it, it's nothing new. ]
Maybe they expected us to pull some kinda master fuckin' plan outta nowhere. 'Cause we famously get along so well.
[ the irony of the current situation notwithstanding. ]
[ expecting the ultimate turnaround from him, of all people? but that's absolutely something his father would do. it still wouldn't be good enough, ultimately, but he might have gotten a reassurance for it, instead of a cold dismissal. ]
Maybe this was the one chance they had to really ally. Split the city fairly. And we fucked it up.
[ david very nearly laughs at that, shakes his head with a small, amused smile on his face. ]
Oh fuck, yeah. Now you say it, kinda obvious in hindsight.
[ he manages to keep that deadpan surprisingly well. ]
[ ... actually, he can kind of see it, in a way where he'd ask his dad if he was okay if he said it. but part of him thinks archie and his dad like their little games of petty one-upmanship too much for that — never making any really push against eachother, little shiftings of fringe territory to keep eachother on their toes. ]
[ evan knows his father well enough that he'd never actually ally with the kings, except in brief circumstances like they just dealt with. teaming up with a known enemy to take down an unknown one, fine. keeping his distance to avoid an out and out war, also fine. but actually dividing the city up?
maybe ten or twenty years ago. now, he wants it all, eventually. apparently beating the shit out of the heir wasn't good enough, though. ]
Maybe next time they need to flatten someone trying to take over their shit, we can team up and burn their place down. Like we actually get along.
[ 'like we actually get along.' david laughs softly at that, a little twinge of annoyance at the fact that he'd like to see that. to rampage through some place with someone on his level? ]
Be an interesting change of pace.
[ that's all the appeal is, just a change of pace. something new that he's never gotten to do before. why else would he be interested in seeing evan in his element without being on the receiving end of it? ]
[ david says it with a scoff, like he's offended by his dad kicking him out even though it's purely hypothetical. it's just the kind of bullshit he can imagine him pulling; take the benefit of someone doing something for him, then fuck them for doing it without his say so. ]
Let us do the work first, 'course. Then disown us for doin' it.
[ and isn't that hilarious to even consider. at this point, it'd be possible, but raising one son was enough of a problem for both of their fathers - and david's parents are still technically married, aren't they? ]
[ the idea of his parents having another kid makes david wrinkle his nose in disgust-- aside from the fact he's pretty sure his mother is over that particular hill, he's fairly certain his parents haven't been able to stomach touching eachother long enough to potentially conceive a child since he was little. not that it matters so much — his father isn't as particular as evan's, 'family' doesn't have to mean his direct bloodline. there's cousins, nieces and nephews, etc. he'd weather the disappointment and train one of them up. ]
[ david opens his mouth to say as much, pauses when he catches himself, and shakes his head. ]
Could be doin' those two a favour. Might be the only reason they could stand eachother longer than two minutes.
[ evan raises an eyebrow at the comment, not fully following, but writes it off. he doesn't want to consider his father having another kid, either. less out of concern for the potential future punching bag, and more not wanting to see another of his father's type of woman disappearing after she becomes too much of a problem.
funny, how few of those he's seen since that happened the first time he can remember.
he finishes the drink maybe a little too fast and gets up without a word to buy another round. they keep veering onto bad topics. and whose fault is that? ]
[ david sighs through his nose, watching the way evan finishes his drink and gets up wordlessly. normally when they talk david is fairly secure in knowing it's evan who tanked the mood, can't always figure out what it was that made evan's mood turn, but he's certain he can always track the highs and lows, the way something crumbles and he brings the tone veering into a ditch. ]
[ this time, he feels like it's his fault, and that throws david off. he holds his glass by the rim and uses it to nudge his beer mat around while he waits for evan to come back with the next round. ]
Haven't gotten to rampage like that in a long time, now I think about it.
[ maybe he should've changed the subject entirely, but he's opened his mouth now. tips back the last bit of his drink with a grimace. ]
[ evan sets down both drinks, settles in, and stares at david. it's an interesting word choice. rampage. evan supposes he doesn't normally do that, at least not in public, but losing his shit and beating the hell out of someone is more normal for him.
although not normal knowing he can go as far as he wants, because someone will intervene to stop him. so many people won't do it because he'll turn on them, but this time they knew better. this time there were a lot of them. ]
Knowing somebody's gonna stop you makes it easier.
[ there's a buzz in his head from the liquor that beer, even expensive beer, couldn't cause. not enough to be even slightly drunk, but he's starting to get there. ]
Means you don't have to show a fucking ounce of self-control.
[ david leans forward on an elbow, watching evan intently. ]
The self-control.
[ david knows he does. every goddamn day, he's so tired of having to control himself. of having to worry aout going "too far" and how that'd look. it's bullshit. ]
[ but he knows what he's talking about. he can't go full bore all the time, because that'd be bad for business. but his father has fewer complaints about his rage than david's must about him, because it's rare that he hears anything about his own attacks. at least, the ones in private. ]
It's about the only thing we've got if we want to stay in one piece.
[ but yes, he is tired of it. it's clear on his face, if not in his voice. ]
[ david nods, halfway contemplates pushing evan for more of an answer, but why? he already knows-- hell, evan's worse at keeping his shit together than he is. probably because his father encourages it, david's has always seemed more like he's simply putting up with it. making the best of a bad situation. as if he's not the one who caused it to begin with. ]
Suppose so.
[ whatever. this is fucking miserable. david sighs, glances out toward the bar to see if there's anything interesting going on. there isn't. ]
[ whatever mood he was hoping for with this, if he was hoping for anything at all, wasn't this abject fucking misery. thinking about being killed or disowned or thrown aside. the only funny part was when they talked about robbing a bank.
he stares at his drink and shakes his head. going to one of david's places would get both of them in trouble. going to one of his would do the same, and probably get david killed. staying here is only going to make things worse, because the attitude in the air isn't changing. they need to get out. he shouldn't have done this in the first place.
his first instinct is to just leave. but instead: ]
Let's get something at the store. Go back to my place. Fight it out or something.
[ david's head snaps back to look at evan when he speaks, and then he laughs once he actually processes what evan says. the thought of going back to evan's place makes something twist in his gut, but it's buried under the absurdity of the idea that he'd invite him over just to get drunk and fight. quiets the part of his mind wondering why the fuck he came out here, what he was expecting. ]
Better your place than mine if that's what you wanna do.
[ david's little apartment is actually lived in, he'd rather not have to replace anything because they threw eachother through it. ]
[ he should just go home. this has been a weird and slightly miserable evening, he should go home and sleep it off and stop entertaining the idea of socialising with evan fucking macmillan for some stupid reason. and yet. ]
Fuck it-- not like I've got anything else to do tonight.
[ this is a bad idea. evan realizes it after david agrees. but it's too late now - well, no, it's not, but he's not about to back down and at like some kind of coward. ]
Nobody's inviting you to parties on a Wednesday?
[ he finishes off his drink too fast and stands, gripping the seat for a second before heading toward the door without the slightest hint of being drunk. because he's not drunk yet. at all.
the idea that he was followed out here does occur to him, but he brushes it off. there's no chance he's ever going to try and take over anything until his father dies - provided that ever happens - so nobody needs to worry about him planning a coup or some stupid shit like that. and even if someone did report back that he's out drinking with david king, that'll just get him yelled at. being friendly with the enemy is a crime but not unforgiveable, especially now. he hopes.
but going back to his place, even if it never gets used ... ]
You get somethin'. And meet me there. Remember how to get there?
[ he assumes that's something david wouldn't forget out of habit. the path to the enemy. evan himself will take a more roundabout way, because he's the one who'll be followed. not david. it means he'll arrive after him, and be seen alone, sleeping the drink off outside home. nothing suspicious.
he stops off to get something of his own on the way, though. ]
[ evan's got it right, it's hardwired into him not to forget something like that. he remembers the route they took from the bar, the way he got home, a handful of other ways to get there, though none would let him get the drop on someone who was waiting for it. he hasn't researched it, thought it through more than instinct based on knowing the city and the part he has to play. ]
[ he lifts his glass in a lazy goodbye wave and watches evan go, confused, again. sits with his drink for another ten minutes wondering what the fuck he's doing and why. why he feels so fucking compelled to see this through, to spend this time with evan. does he want to get to know him? why? ]
[ whatever hesitation he feels doesn't stop david taking a casual pace to a nearby store and buying a bottle of whiskey. and a bag of popcorn that he eats on the rest of his stroll to evan's place. debates on which entrance to use, but reasons if he's being followed it's better to go through the front. knocks on the door and leans against the frame, bottle tucked under his arm, still working his way through that bag of popcorn. ]
[ he gets there and david hasn't arrived. if he's being followed, that's going to look suspect: him arriving, and then david. but maybe once he goes inside anyone following him will leave. sleeping off drink in another apartment - why not?
he just has to hope for the best.
it's not long after that david shows, and evan opens the door with a scowl, but doesn't say anything. he's got something under his arm and a bag of popcorn, for some reason, but they didn't get anything to eat at the bar. ]
Midnight snack?
[ said a little more sharply than he meant, but that's fine. they don't get along, anyway.
he's got two bottles of vodka on the counter, which he doesn't like any more than the rest of the shit they get but at least it has a burn. this time he keeps them out of the living room, instead offering david a glass in the kitchen. may as well just get drunk and sit on the linoleum if they have to. ]
Got a bit peckish on my way-- woulda preferred a burger or a kebab but this'll do.
[ the scowl and the sharpness of his tone is nothing new, so david pays it no mind. offers a bright, lopsided smile and tilts it evan's way as he follows him into apartment and nudges the door closed behind him. ]
Want some?
[ he follows all the way to the kitchen and sets the bottle under his arm down next to the two vodka bottles, makes a noise of fake awe as he takes the glass — the kind of noise someone makes when presented a rare treat they can't get themselves, except he's quite obviously teasing. it's a step up from last time. ]
[ david sets the glass down, takes one of the bottles of vodka to pour it and then inspects the label. nothing special, but then he's not exactly drinking for the taste tonight, is he. ]
[ not that he would have been impressed by something more significant, but popcorn is just weird to evan.
and david's reaction to his double purchase is annoying, too, but he can put that down to it being david existing near him. evan grabs the whiskey and his own glass, opens it up without hesitation and pours himself a drink. the very slight buzz from before is stronger now, but that's easy enough to ignore. ]
Shoulda got something a the bar. Unless it was all too expensive for you.
[ after their discussion about expensive everything else, the food probably wouldn't have been a bad move. he'd glanced at their menu. $30 for a burger. even he has standards for better than that. ]
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hardlydead) wrote2024-05-20 10:36 pm
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[ he looks back down into his drink, like he's trying to see a confirmation or rebuttal in the alcohol. it doesn't come. ]
Anyone try anything after the fight?
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[ to be fair, it's not even people within the organization he's concerned about. there's always a few rotten eggs waiting to get tossed, but his father is good at instilling loyalty. at making people feel valued-- wanted. ]
[ well, most people. ]
[ either way it's people on the outside he'd be more worried about, people who think they can prove the kings ain't shit by taking him down. ]
Coulda been bleeding out, no one's dumb enough to try shit when I'm flanked by a bunch of muscle.
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[ evan would be dumb enough. but he was also bleeding out and being dragged away by his men, so it didn't really work out. ]
Still sorta wonder what they wanted us to do.
[ yes, this has been on his mind for weeks. it's better to think about than, say, almost making out with david king. ]
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[ he's been in his head about it too, but there's no explanation david can think of, not that that's anything new. his father acting with little to no explanation, sending him on work and then acting disappointed with the result. this is the most... egregious example for some time, but if he really thinks about it, it's nothing new. ]
Maybe they expected us to pull some kinda master fuckin' plan outta nowhere. 'Cause we famously get along so well.
[ the irony of the current situation notwithstanding. ]
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[ expecting the ultimate turnaround from him, of all people? but that's absolutely something his father would do. it still wouldn't be good enough, ultimately, but he might have gotten a reassurance for it, instead of a cold dismissal. ]
Maybe this was the one chance they had to really ally. Split the city fairly. And we fucked it up.
[ he smirks when he says that. as if. ]
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Oh fuck, yeah. Now you say it, kinda obvious in hindsight.
[ he manages to keep that deadpan surprisingly well. ]
[ ... actually, he can kind of see it, in a way where he'd ask his dad if he was okay if he said it. but part of him thinks archie and his dad like their little games of petty one-upmanship too much for that — never making any really push against eachother, little shiftings of fringe territory to keep eachother on their toes. ]
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maybe ten or twenty years ago. now, he wants it all, eventually. apparently beating the shit out of the heir wasn't good enough, though. ]
Maybe next time they need to flatten someone trying to take over their shit, we can team up and burn their place down. Like we actually get along.
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Be an interesting change of pace.
[ that's all the appeal is, just a change of pace. something new that he's never gotten to do before. why else would he be interested in seeing evan in his element without being on the receiving end of it? ]
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yeah, right. he doesn't need a friend, especially not david king, of all people. even if it's some vague bullshit. ]
How long you think it'll take before they disown us both for trying it?
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[ david says it with a scoff, like he's offended by his dad kicking him out even though it's purely hypothetical. it's just the kind of bullshit he can imagine him pulling; take the benefit of someone doing something for him, then fuck them for doing it without his say so. ]
Let us do the work first, 'course. Then disown us for doin' it.
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[ and isn't that hilarious to even consider. at this point, it'd be possible, but raising one son was enough of a problem for both of their fathers - and david's parents are still technically married, aren't they? ]
Can't hand shit off outside the family.
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[ david opens his mouth to say as much, pauses when he catches himself, and shakes his head. ]
Could be doin' those two a favour. Might be the only reason they could stand eachother longer than two minutes.
[ ha ha ha... anyway, saved it. ]
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funny, how few of those he's seen since that happened the first time he can remember.
he finishes the drink maybe a little too fast and gets up without a word to buy another round. they keep veering onto bad topics. and whose fault is that? ]
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[ this time, he feels like it's his fault, and that throws david off. he holds his glass by the rim and uses it to nudge his beer mat around while he waits for evan to come back with the next round. ]
Haven't gotten to rampage like that in a long time, now I think about it.
[ maybe he should've changed the subject entirely, but he's opened his mouth now. tips back the last bit of his drink with a grimace. ]
Kinda miss it.
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although not normal knowing he can go as far as he wants, because someone will intervene to stop him. so many people won't do it because he'll turn on them, but this time they knew better. this time there were a lot of them. ]
Knowing somebody's gonna stop you makes it easier.
[ there's a buzz in his head from the liquor that beer, even expensive beer, couldn't cause. not enough to be even slightly drunk, but he's starting to get there. ]
Means you don't have to show a fucking ounce of self-control.
[ not that he usually shows that anyway. ]
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[ david leans forward on an elbow, watching evan intently. ]
The self-control.
[ david knows he does. every goddamn day, he's so tired of having to control himself. of having to worry aout going "too far" and how that'd look. it's bullshit. ]
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That supposed to be a joke?
[ but he knows what he's talking about. he can't go full bore all the time, because that'd be bad for business. but his father has fewer complaints about his rage than david's must about him, because it's rare that he hears anything about his own attacks. at least, the ones in private. ]
It's about the only thing we've got if we want to stay in one piece.
[ but yes, he is tired of it. it's clear on his face, if not in his voice. ]
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Suppose so.
[ whatever. this is fucking miserable. david sighs, glances out toward the bar to see if there's anything interesting going on. there isn't. ]
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he stares at his drink and shakes his head. going to one of david's places would get both of them in trouble. going to one of his would do the same, and probably get david killed. staying here is only going to make things worse, because the attitude in the air isn't changing. they need to get out. he shouldn't have done this in the first place.
his first instinct is to just leave. but instead: ]
Let's get something at the store. Go back to my place. Fight it out or something.
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Better your place than mine if that's what you wanna do.
[ david's little apartment is actually lived in, he'd rather not have to replace anything because they threw eachother through it. ]
[ he should just go home. this has been a weird and slightly miserable evening, he should go home and sleep it off and stop entertaining the idea of socialising with evan fucking macmillan for some stupid reason. and yet. ]
Fuck it-- not like I've got anything else to do tonight.
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Nobody's inviting you to parties on a Wednesday?
[ he finishes off his drink too fast and stands, gripping the seat for a second before heading toward the door without the slightest hint of being drunk. because he's not drunk yet. at all.
the idea that he was followed out here does occur to him, but he brushes it off. there's no chance he's ever going to try and take over anything until his father dies - provided that ever happens - so nobody needs to worry about him planning a coup or some stupid shit like that. and even if someone did report back that he's out drinking with david king, that'll just get him yelled at. being friendly with the enemy is a crime but not unforgiveable, especially now. he hopes.
but going back to his place, even if it never gets used ... ]
You get somethin'. And meet me there. Remember how to get there?
[ he assumes that's something david wouldn't forget out of habit. the path to the enemy. evan himself will take a more roundabout way, because he's the one who'll be followed. not david. it means he'll arrive after him, and be seen alone, sleeping the drink off outside home. nothing suspicious.
he stops off to get something of his own on the way, though. ]
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[ evan's got it right, it's hardwired into him not to forget something like that. he remembers the route they took from the bar, the way he got home, a handful of other ways to get there, though none would let him get the drop on someone who was waiting for it. he hasn't researched it, thought it through more than instinct based on knowing the city and the part he has to play. ]
[ he lifts his glass in a lazy goodbye wave and watches evan go, confused, again. sits with his drink for another ten minutes wondering what the fuck he's doing and why. why he feels so fucking compelled to see this through, to spend this time with evan. does he want to get to know him? why? ]
[ whatever hesitation he feels doesn't stop david taking a casual pace to a nearby store and buying a bottle of whiskey. and a bag of popcorn that he eats on the rest of his stroll to evan's place. debates on which entrance to use, but reasons if he's being followed it's better to go through the front. knocks on the door and leans against the frame, bottle tucked under his arm, still working his way through that bag of popcorn. ]
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he just has to hope for the best.
it's not long after that david shows, and evan opens the door with a scowl, but doesn't say anything. he's got something under his arm and a bag of popcorn, for some reason, but they didn't get anything to eat at the bar. ]
Midnight snack?
[ said a little more sharply than he meant, but that's fine. they don't get along, anyway.
he's got two bottles of vodka on the counter, which he doesn't like any more than the rest of the shit they get but at least it has a burn. this time he keeps them out of the living room, instead offering david a glass in the kitchen. may as well just get drunk and sit on the linoleum if they have to. ]
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[ the scowl and the sharpness of his tone is nothing new, so david pays it no mind. offers a bright, lopsided smile and tilts it evan's way as he follows him into apartment and nudges the door closed behind him. ]
Want some?
[ he follows all the way to the kitchen and sets the bottle under his arm down next to the two vodka bottles, makes a noise of fake awe as he takes the glass — the kind of noise someone makes when presented a rare treat they can't get themselves, except he's quite obviously teasing. it's a step up from last time. ]
[ david sets the glass down, takes one of the bottles of vodka to pour it and then inspects the label. nothing special, but then he's not exactly drinking for the taste tonight, is he. ]
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[ not that he would have been impressed by something more significant, but popcorn is just weird to evan.
and david's reaction to his double purchase is annoying, too, but he can put that down to it being david existing near him. evan grabs the whiskey and his own glass, opens it up without hesitation and pours himself a drink. the very slight buzz from before is stronger now, but that's easy enough to ignore. ]
Shoulda got something a the bar. Unless it was all too expensive for you.
[ after their discussion about expensive everything else, the food probably wouldn't have been a bad move. he'd glanced at their menu. $30 for a burger. even he has standards for better than that. ]
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