For deus_ex_phs

[zax_fair]

This time, the rumors had come from a source other than Kunsel, but Zax was ready with the drinks. Honestly, her friend had the worst luck when it came to dates, and she knew he'd need to vent a little. Hopefully, he wouldn't be too broken up by this one. Zax hadn't like the girl from the start, but Kunsel had liked her. So she had been the supportive friend and hoped she was wrong.

Well, she was going to continue to be a supportive friend. Had some of his favorite alcohol and was just waiting.

Comments

[deus_ex_phs]

"Wow, good alcohol and a vacation. Either I did something really awesome, or you're buttering me up for something, Zax." Or she was just the best friend anyone could ever ask for, but that was true anyway.

Once she was done refilling their drinks, he reached into the bag for a chip, then flipped it her way, interested in seeing how she might try to catch it. Somewhere in the back of his mind where he honestly didn't care, it occurred to him that the alcohol was probably already sinking in. Didn't care, because getting drunk was the point, and he could just help clean up in the morning if this ended up making a mess.

"So, which is it?"

[zax_fair]

"Yes," Zax said cheerfully, giving him a grin and a completely non-straight answer. It was fun to tease a bit, and giving him a puzzle would be fun.

She swayed a bit, catching the chip in her mouth. Go hand-eye coordination. Wouldn't be able to do that in a little bit, giving how strong this stuff could be. But that was the point of the chips, to put something in their stomachs besides alcohol.

"Maybe I'm just super awesome and can do things for multiple reasons." Maybe not in this case, but teasing was always fun with Kunsel. It was a challenge for each other. Her to try to sneak info past him, and him to figure out what she was doing.

[deus_ex_phs]

Hey, she actually caught it in her mouth. Kunsel's mouth lifted into a smile with amusement. "Well, let's see," he mused, tossing another chip. "I think I can rule out the 'just reward' theory, since I'd know better than anyone if I'd done something awesome. So. Pretty sure that means you're trying to get into my good graces. That just leaves the question of why."

He paused then, holding up another chip in his hand, and gave her a mock-accusing look. "Alright, Zax, what did you do that you're trying to get me to forgive?"

[zax_fair]

Catching the second chip as well, Zax snorted. She lazily poked at her friend's shoulder. "If I had done something, you'd have already known about it. You have special powers like that."

She grinned at him, eyes amused. "Besides, maybe I just like making you grin when you've had a bad day."

It was good to see him relaxing a bit. While he hasn't gone out with the woman long, it had been more than one date. Zax thought she was completely allowed to worry. Friend privilege.

[deus_ex_phs]

"I've been out of touch with my contacts for about three hours now," Kunsel bantered back, reaching up to catch her hand. "You could have slipped something by me in that time that I wouldn't know about yet." He gave her fingers a gentle squeeze, reassuring her that he was just teasing.

But more than that, he wanted to let her know that he was grateful, both for the favor that she'd clearly done for him, and for just being there, for helping him get his mind off of things, for just all around being her. The smile he returned to her was warm.

"You know, I didn't even check my PHS before I came here." And while that spoke volumes about how upset he'd been, it also said a lot about their friendship. Hers was the voice he wanted to hear more than any rumors right now.

[zax_fair]

Giving him a look of faux-despair, Zax set her glass down to rest it against his forehead. "Oh, you are sick, aren't you? You should have said something."

She did squeeze his fingers back, as best she could with the angle of the grip. Kunsel, no matter what else happened, was always going to be her friend. She'd stand up with him no matter what happened.

Even if it was a repeat of that time in the cafeteria and the runny oatmeal.

"All your contacts will think you've been murdered. You'll have to start from scratch."

Collecting her glass again, Zax gave him a small smile. He was always going to be welcomed here, and she was glad he knew he could come.

[deus_ex_phs]

Hey, that oatmeal incident was not his fault. He was as much a victim as anyone else. Just because he knew more didn't mean that he was guilty. More people than Zax should have taken his word that he just had really good contacts.

Though speaking of his contacts, he can't help but laugh at Zax's exaggeration. "I'm allowed to take breaks from my PHS without it meaning that I'm sick!" He swatted her hand away from his head. "I do sleep sometimes, you know? And other things!"

Even if he might give people the impression that he doesn't, because he keeps waking up every time his PHS goes off, and he can't just go back to bed without checking to see what just came in.

[zax_fair]

Relaxing against Kunsel, Zax grinned at him. "Well, I suppose you do sleep now and then. Though we all know you survive off gossip and rumor." Her tone was full of teasing, and she let her head tip to rest on his shoulder.

In any case, this was nice, and she sipped at her drink some more. "One day, you are going to take over the entire blackmarket and everyone will regret not getting in on the ground floor of being your friend." Even now, Kunsel's awareness of what was going on made him the perfect person to find out who to buy what from.

[deus_ex_phs]

"Are you kidding?" Kunsel made a face, deliberately exaggerated to wrinkle his nose. "If I took over the whole black market, I'd have to interact more directly with the slum lords." Implying that he interacted with them less directly right now, but details. "Can you imagine having to talk to someone like Don Corneo?"

Although, come to think of it, it might be pretty funny if it was Zax who had a conversation with the Don. Between his imagination and the alcohol, Kunsel had to hide a grin in his drink, and he took the opportunity to sling an arm around her shoulders. You know, just in case that suddenly sounded like a good idea.

[zax_fair]

"I would terrify someone like the Don. When he wasn't trying to work up the nerve to hit on me." Zax was pretty confident in that. Though it was something she saw on a regular basis, that mix of fear and interest. As one of the few females in the SOLDIER program, she saw it a lot in the incoming troops, as well as some of her fellow SOLDIERs. And Reno. Probably because she was attractive, yet able to break a lot of them with one hand.

She shifted to relax a bit more against Kunsel's side, still sipping at her drink. This was good stuff. "Besides, that is why you have minions, so they can talk to slum lords for you. You just organize everything and make all the gil."

[deus_ex_phs]

"If he ever works up the nerve, I want popcorn." Because watching that would be hilarious. Better even than watching the new recruits meet Zax, and recruit day was always fun. So much so that Kunsel had made a point of hanging in the background near Zax during orientation to see the new recruits' reaction to her.

"But slum lords tend to have inflated opinions of their importance. Sooner or later, one would insist on seeing me in person. I like the idea of minions, though." He lifted his head from his drink long enough to see his slightly goofy grin. "Would you be my minion, Zax?"

...yeah, alcohol was definitely kicking in.

[zax_fair]

"Sure, as long as you buy me all the awesome things." She waggled her brows at Kunsel, grinning back at him. "I admit, I'm not sure how cheap I'd be. But I'd totally give you a discount for my awesome services."

She was feeling pretty relaxed and happy. This was good, it was better to see her friend grinning and relaxed than upset. Much better.

[deus_ex_phs]

"Is that my cue to offer my services in exchange?" He winked at her exaggeratedly, with all the seriousness the idea even deserved. "Rumor has it I'm a really good lay."

His rumor, of course, that she might have helped spread, but details. He just wanted to make her laugh.