[ then again, how often is he going to the clubs david's family owns? never, that's how often. he shakes his head and runs a hand through his hair, feeling sweat, remembering why it's there. ]
Guess you wouldn't have that kind of leeway if that was all you did.
Wouldn't be involved in the business at all if that was all I did.
[ it was made clear when he was younger, if he didn't take things seriously he wouldn't be a part of the family. the threat came in various forms, from just being removed from the business to being cut off to being put in the ground. all of them equally believable. ]
[ it makes sense, but a part of him still believe david's the ultimate partier. which is probably what he's meant to think, and take david less seriously ... which ends up with him getting his shit kicked in publicly, even if they agreed to it.
frustrated by his own ineptitude, evan picks up his jacket and fiddles with the lining. it's a good jacket, old, real leather and well-worn, patched and repaired. the one he's basically never not wearing. ]
Ever think that might have been the better option?
[ it's not sarcastic or accusatory. he's genuinely asking. ]
[ david assumes at first that it's some kind of insult, but there's not actually any of that in the way evan asks ]
Sure, yeah.
[ david just about manages a tone that's casual, cavalier, like the topic isn't dancing a knife's edge on what could be considered betrayal. like david isn't taking that and plunging right in. but it's the truth. when he was younger, when he had other prospects he used to think about it all the time. lord knows he would've been happier with his life if it were the case, but he wasn't made that way. as many guilty little tastes of insubordination david's willing to have, his loyalty to his father far outweighs any care for himself. ]
Used to think about just takin' off too. Move somewhere I don't have to worry about all this shit, but that's never gonna happen.
[ he's a little more sombre when he goes on, gaze a little distant as he looks down into his bottle. ]
[ there were days when he felt the same way, which is why he asked. when he was a kid. but it's been a long time since then, and these days he'd never even think about it.
well ... not seriously, anyway. it's not just that he'd be found. it's that he's got nothing else, and nowhere else, and no skills outside the shit he does every day. he wouldn't last a week on his own. ]
Yeah.
[ that subtle agreement means they have one more stupid thing in common. ]
Don't think either of us'd make it more than a couple days outside this anyway.
Think I'd manage. Assuming I don't get hunted down and killed.
[ david puts his feet up on the coffee table, thinking. he likes to think he's still a quick learner, and that the stuff he knew when he was younger is still as solid in his mind, still as applicable. ]
[ and anyway, if all else fails: ] Could take up coaching.
[ but it didn't fit for the family. took up too much of his time, brought too much attention. so he gave it up. just like so many other things in his life, given up or changed to better serve people who'll never even appreciate it. ]
[ he considers, briefly, his own experience with sports. various ones, because why not while he was in school? had to do something. but he moves on from that quickly. they've addressed it before, and honestly, he doesn't want to talk about it again. especially not how it all ended. ]
Can't imagine you being the coach of any team without getting kicked out after you beat the shit out of an opposing coach for some dumb reason.
[ it's good natured, he's not offended. david is, if anything, used to the assumption but the worst it ever gets is some shouting. maybe some backseat coaching where he yells at a tv that they're doing everything wrong. ]
[ less accusatory than normal, because, well. david's worse than just that as far as evan's concerned, but he's not trying to start a fight here and now.
which is strange. he should be trying that, in the wake of what they've done. he hasn't at all, yet, too shocked by everything to even try to beat him up to reestablish some sense of sanity. that's a bad sign, isn't it? ]
Just assume I don't hear about your furniture-trashing at home because you do it in private.
[ david snorts and turns his head to look at evan, an amused grin tugging at his expression. he can't tell how serious evan is about his assumption, but how much does that really matter? ]
You got me. Half my budget goes on replacing my furniture.
evan rubs a hand along his jaw, almost in memory of some of those fights, partly just from the tiredness setting in. the drinks didn't really hit him but the rest of it did, and all the little things that come from this - the guilt, the anger, the recognition of what he's doing - are creeping back in.
some days he wishes he had a little more self-control. ]
I'll, uh ... I'll let you know when I get a burner.
[ that slaps him back to reality pretty quickly and david looks away from evan, down to the beer in his hand. right, the burner. because they can't just do this. because this isn't okay. ]
[ he nods, clears his throat and glances toward the door. ]
[ it's probably too abrupt of an ending, given the casual banter, but evan's suddenly filled with a sort of dread. there's no activity on his actual phone, which means there's probably no reason to worry. his father used to wait for him to get back before the explosions started, but he's getting older now; his self-control is a lot less than it used to be. evan would know by now.
still, the worry lingers. ]
Yeah. Before people start wonderin' where the fuck I went to.
[ he grips the arm of the couch hard before he stands, making sure he's fully able to do so before double checking that he's all done up and doesn't look too rumpled. not that anyone would assume this, but still. ]
Don't want 'em following me around like they used to.
[ fair enough. david nods and gestures doorward. unlike some, he's only got one door, but the tiny handful of people around here won't really care. the more they peer into other peoples' lives, the more it invites people to look into theirs, so they keep to themselves as much as possible. ]
People round here don't give a shit about what anyone else is doing, at least. Should be able to piss off unbothered.
[ he pulls his jacket on, gives david what he hopes is a wry look instead of one that's uncertain and maybe a little afraid - of what? - because everything like that is fighting for control at this point. it's probably more of the former at this point. he's had enough time to get control of himself. ]
Good idea to live outside the combat zones, then.
[ his apartment, the shitty empty one, is right on the edge. still within territories. still within reach. maybe nobody cares there, but here, it's probably better.
he heads for the door, taking another quick glance around the apartment out of habit. he's probably going to remember a lot more of this than he wants to, honestly. ]
[ there's some lingering want there, something david internally chalks up to being because they're in his place, a half-assed explanation that might make sense if david cared to follow that line of thought, but he's not going to waste the time or brain power on it. ]
[ after a moment he stands to follow evan to the door, just to lock it when he leaves. that's all it is. ]
[ evan nods a final sort-of-goodbye as david approaches, and leaves - carefully, because he has to. opens the door slowly and listens first, heads out with a lighter tread than he normally would, but david's right. there's nobody around, and if anybody's on the other sides of the apartment doors, they're not listening. they're not involved. they don't want to be involved.
he leaves without waiting to hear the door lock, and doesn't look back. he's not attached. doesn't need to make sure of anything. right? david's more than capable of taking care of himself and anyway, this is just their little ... thing. just a couple of one-night stands to pass the time. so what if he's getting a burner? that's just for his own safety.
and maybe if he keeps telling himself that, it'll be true. ]
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hardlydead) wrote2024-05-20 10:36 pm
no subject
[ flat, deadpan. it's not like they talk a lot or often, but he supposes a pattern is a pattern. ]
We own most of those clubs. I'm not usually there to cut loose.
no subject
[ then again, how often is he going to the clubs david's family owns? never, that's how often. he shakes his head and runs a hand through his hair, feeling sweat, remembering why it's there. ]
Guess you wouldn't have that kind of leeway if that was all you did.
no subject
[ it was made clear when he was younger, if he didn't take things seriously he wouldn't be a part of the family. the threat came in various forms, from just being removed from the business to being cut off to being put in the ground. all of them equally believable. ]
no subject
frustrated by his own ineptitude, evan picks up his jacket and fiddles with the lining. it's a good jacket, old, real leather and well-worn, patched and repaired. the one he's basically never not wearing. ]
Ever think that might have been the better option?
[ it's not sarcastic or accusatory. he's genuinely asking. ]
no subject
Sure, yeah.
[ david just about manages a tone that's casual, cavalier, like the topic isn't dancing a knife's edge on what could be considered betrayal. like david isn't taking that and plunging right in. but it's the truth. when he was younger, when he had other prospects he used to think about it all the time. lord knows he would've been happier with his life if it were the case, but he wasn't made that way. as many guilty little tastes of insubordination david's willing to have, his loyalty to his father far outweighs any care for himself. ]
Used to think about just takin' off too. Move somewhere I don't have to worry about all this shit, but that's never gonna happen.
[ he's a little more sombre when he goes on, gaze a little distant as he looks down into his bottle. ]
They'd find me.
no subject
well ... not seriously, anyway. it's not just that he'd be found. it's that he's got nothing else, and nowhere else, and no skills outside the shit he does every day. he wouldn't last a week on his own. ]
Yeah.
[ that subtle agreement means they have one more stupid thing in common. ]
Don't think either of us'd make it more than a couple days outside this anyway.
no subject
[ david puts his feet up on the coffee table, thinking. he likes to think he's still a quick learner, and that the stuff he knew when he was younger is still as solid in his mind, still as applicable. ]
[ and anyway, if all else fails: ] Could take up coaching.
no subject
[ evan almost smirks at that, but now he's depressed himself too much to really be amused by the idea. ]
Thought you didn't like it that much.
no subject
[ but it didn't fit for the family. took up too much of his time, brought too much attention. so he gave it up. just like so many other things in his life, given up or changed to better serve people who'll never even appreciate it. ]
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Can't imagine you being the coach of any team without getting kicked out after you beat the shit out of an opposing coach for some dumb reason.
[ probably not a player, though. ]
no subject
Probably a ref.
[ he gestures vaguely with the hand holding his beer. ]
"Call that a foul? I'll show you a foul."
no subject
I'll buy that. Surprised you don't do that already just watchin' a match. Or at least put a fist through the TV.
[ or chuck his phone out a window. whatever. evan would do the same, probably, if he was more invested in anything related to sports. ]
Or do you and I just never get to hear about it?
no subject
[ it's good natured, he's not offended. david is, if anything, used to the assumption but the worst it ever gets is some shouting. maybe some backseat coaching where he yells at a tv that they're doing everything wrong. ]
no subject
[ less accusatory than normal, because, well. david's worse than just that as far as evan's concerned, but he's not trying to start a fight here and now.
which is strange. he should be trying that, in the wake of what they've done. he hasn't at all, yet, too shocked by everything to even try to beat him up to reestablish some sense of sanity. that's a bad sign, isn't it? ]
Just assume I don't hear about your furniture-trashing at home because you do it in private.
no subject
You got me. Half my budget goes on replacing my furniture.
no subject
[ from the fights, obviously.
evan rubs a hand along his jaw, almost in memory of some of those fights, partly just from the tiredness setting in. the drinks didn't really hit him but the rest of it did, and all the little things that come from this - the guilt, the anger, the recognition of what he's doing - are creeping back in.
some days he wishes he had a little more self-control. ]
I'll, uh ... I'll let you know when I get a burner.
no subject
[ he nods, clears his throat and glances toward the door. ]
Yeah-- yeah of course.
[ that's that then. ]
You headin' off?
no subject
still, the worry lingers. ]
Yeah. Before people start wonderin' where the fuck I went to.
[ he grips the arm of the couch hard before he stands, making sure he's fully able to do so before double checking that he's all done up and doesn't look too rumpled. not that anyone would assume this, but still. ]
Don't want 'em following me around like they used to.
no subject
People round here don't give a shit about what anyone else is doing, at least. Should be able to piss off unbothered.
no subject
[ he pulls his jacket on, gives david what he hopes is a wry look instead of one that's uncertain and maybe a little afraid - of what? - because everything like that is fighting for control at this point. it's probably more of the former at this point. he's had enough time to get control of himself. ]
Good idea to live outside the combat zones, then.
[ his apartment, the shitty empty one, is right on the edge. still within territories. still within reach. maybe nobody cares there, but here, it's probably better.
he heads for the door, taking another quick glance around the apartment out of habit. he's probably going to remember a lot more of this than he wants to, honestly. ]
no subject
[ there's some lingering want there, something david internally chalks up to being because they're in his place, a half-assed explanation that might make sense if david cared to follow that line of thought, but he's not going to waste the time or brain power on it. ]
[ after a moment he stands to follow evan to the door, just to lock it when he leaves. that's all it is. ]
no subject
he leaves without waiting to hear the door lock, and doesn't look back. he's not attached. doesn't need to make sure of anything. right? david's more than capable of taking care of himself and anyway, this is just their little ... thing. just a couple of one-night stands to pass the time. so what if he's getting a burner? that's just for his own safety.
and maybe if he keeps telling himself that, it'll be true. ]