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Post by freeziepop on Nov 17, 2010 23:38:36 GMT -5
Eyes glanced at his phone, taking in the numbers with a quick breath. 6:53 pm. All of his fame and fortune couldn't buy him company on a Saturday night.
The cafe was boring this time of night, there wasn't any action, no girls for the taking. Fingers wrapped around the phone, flipping the top up and down idly. Syl tried to make it stand up on the table like an upside down V, each half like legs, and wondered how he got to this point in his life.
He was mean to people. That was it, wasn't it? He was mean to people, so they were mean to him. His reputation had spread, and now instead of adoration and fanfare from strangers for being attractive, he received nothing but cold stares from people he'd never even seen before. It was unsettling trying to give pokemon away in a lab and having the newbie say go fuck yourself as thanks. He had done his fair share of stomping on people, but he felt like he'd grown as a person. Expensive and lavish gifts were doted upon his friends, and those kind enough not to punch him in the face were treated as equals.
The phone suddenly snapped shut, jarring him back to reality. He flipped it open again. 6:55 pm. Time ticked on, he got older, wiser and at the same time more rash. His little performance at Blaze's halloween party stuck out in his mind. His own executive excluded him from the celebration all of Cheyenne was attending. So what did he do? Instead of taking the mature route, he got revenge, crashing the party and showing up drunk.
A sigh escaped his lips. Maybe he did deserve everything he got. He spun the phone in a circle on the table, fingertips tapping the top lightly each time it spun around. Round and round it went, faster and faster until he tapped it a bit too hard and it flew off the table and crashed into the ground.
"Shit," he swore, picking it up off the floor and dusting it off. Flipping it open, he was annoyed to discover the display inside was marred with a giant crack across the screen. Just like his life.
6:57 pm was barely readable now. He shoved the device into his pocket and let his head drop on the table. Pathetic.
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Post by Black Ranger Talis on Nov 17, 2010 23:52:20 GMT -5
Carlos made his way into the cafe. He was starving, having had nothing to eat since his arrival in Cheyenne but a little stale bread and warm water. Glancing around for a sign saying what was for sale, he was left disappointed, and decided to walk straight up to the counter to find something.
He was so focussed on fumbling around with his wallet that he didn't see Syl and bumped into him. "Son of a bitch!" he cursed as he just managed to stop his money from going everywhere. "Sorry."
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Post by freeziepop on Nov 17, 2010 23:59:26 GMT -5
Syl lifted his head off the table to glance at the intruder. It wasn't like he was thinking about in anything in particular, anyway.
"It's fine," Syl said, "I bump into people all the time. And them bump out of them. And into them again," a small smile formed on his face, although it was hard to tell if he was kidding or not.
There was a nagging feeling in the back of his mind that told him he'd seen this guy before. But he'd seen hundreds of people in his line of work. He decided to pry: "first time in the cafe? Their hot chocolate is nasty unless you add a little 'fun' to it," he patted the breast pocket of his coat, which concealed a flask filled with dark rum. "Their sandwiches are nice, if you're into eating dog food."
He let his head slump back down on the table, watching the people behind the counter pace back and forth. One of them, a woman, shot him a dirty look, which made him snicker. "I slept with that one," he snickered again, "and never called her again. Life is funny, isn't it?"
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Post by Black Ranger Talis on Nov 18, 2010 0:05:42 GMT -5
Carlos found himself laughing at the man's words. "I've never had that kind of "fun" he remarked in regards to the alcohol. "And... dog food? Really?" He looked at the counter as his hand subconsciously put his wallet away. "I think I'll pass on food this time."
Looking at the man, he spoke again. "Yeah. It's my first time in this place. And my last, if the food is as bad as you say," he murmured under his breath so that the staff couldn't hear, chuckling again at Syl's remark about the waitress. "Oh. I'm Carlos."
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Post by freeziepop on Nov 18, 2010 0:13:14 GMT -5
"Syl."
Lifting his head again, he raised an eyebrow too. "You can sit down if you want, it's not like I'm doing anything important. It's Saturday and the power is out, and all the pretty girls are in," he wrinkled up his nose, "I guess people don't like walking around town in the dark with someone like me on the loose."
He let out a sad laugh, a subtle nod to his 'man of a million conquests' reputation. It was mostly true, if a million suddenly meant less than thirty. Probably less than twenty-five, if he was being completely honest with himself.
Syl opened his mouth to speak, the words Team Death on his lips, but the red-head changed his mind. "What brings you to this part of town tonight?"
Pulling up his sleeve a few inches, he unconsciously picked at a scab on his wrist. Definitely less than twenty-five.
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Post by Black Ranger Talis on Nov 18, 2010 0:24:02 GMT -5
Carlos nodded at the introduction. "People like you?" he asked with a small smile as he accepted the seat, stretching his legs so that they wouldn't cramp when he stood up again. "I'm sure you could get one of those girls if it wasn't for this goddam power cut." He looked around at the blackened streetlights and wrinkled up his nose in annoyance.
"Well, I just thought I'd get something to eat. I'm new to Cheyenne," explained Carlos, smiling sheepishly. "I didn't have much food, so I thought I'd buy some. It didn't go well. Fell three times on my way through here." Carlos looked at the path as he said this.
"This power cut is pretty bad." Carlos returned his attention to Syl. "Does this happen often?"
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Post by freeziepop on Nov 18, 2010 1:08:28 GMT -5
That eyebrow raised higher. "First time eh? The region isn't that bad-- I've been here for," he stopped to count, raising a finger with each number. Finally, he held up 4 and grinned for the first time, feeling like his old self again. "Four years. Time flies."
It really was no wonder he was so notorious. Four years was a long time to spend in a region as small as Cheyenne, where everybody knew everybody and their business. There was no such thing as privacy.
Syl shrugged in response to the second question. "Not really. A few cities are kind of rural so I doubt they're even feeling the effects, save for the pokemon centers, but the Laboratory and Electric City were hit hard. I don't think this kind of thing has ever happened before," his grin faded into a cryptic smile. He wasn't sure if Carlos knew about Team Death, he wasn't as good at reading people as he used to be. "I can't even work at the lab anymore, our generators do little to help things. The pokemon there are getting restless."
He showed Carlos his arm, which had been burned in the fight at the Power Plant. "One of the fire pokemon got loose and rampaged around the lab. Pretty ridiculous right?" Syl watched Carlos' face closely, wondering if he would catch his lie. If he was at the Power Plant, Syl's cover would be blown.
Deciding to change the subject, he reached into his pocket for his flask and poured a substantial amount into the cup in front of him. "Do you have any badges yet?"
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Post by Black Ranger Talis on Nov 18, 2010 11:04:33 GMT -5
Carlos, far from being the sharpest tool in the box, believed Syl, and winced at the sight of the burn mark. "That looks like it hurts," he murmured, hoping that Pokemon attacks weren't regular occurences.
"No, no badges yet," grimaced Carlos in response to the question. "I nly got my starter yesterday. A Kecleon. So I'm still getting my head wrapped around training and all that jazz."
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Post by (ノಠ益ಠ on Nov 21, 2010 13:34:50 GMT -5
People were not Joshua's strong point, and so the idea of going to the cafe and sitting down was not one he looked upon too fondly. It was awkward for him, being in a room with so many people he didn't know, not knowing what to say when someone struck up a conversation. He'd always been that way, socially, and so he'd started shutting people out. And now that he'd matured a little and might have been willing to make a few friends, he didn't know how to go about doing so.
Life sucked, didn't it?
But hot damn, he was thirsty as hell. He couldn't stand water, and didn't have any Pokemon with helpful Water-type moves, regardless. He was all out of stuff to drink at the house, and didn't really feel in the grocery shopping mood. He'd never been fond of shopping. It wasn't that he thought it was a woman's job, he was surprisingly not sexist in the least, he was just half-assed and couldn't be bothered most of the time.
So, off to the cafe it was.
He was rather surprised to recognize one of the people there as Syl, whom he'd briefly encountered on a few occasions. No reason not to get to know him a little better, right? He needed something to pass the time, anyways. When he tried, he could be alright for a few minutes in conversation with strangers, so he hoped he didn't fuck up. Fingers crossed.
"Hey, Syl, right?" It was always nice to make sure. He didn't recognize the other guy, but in an attempt to be polite, he asked, "I don't think I've ever met you... you would be...?"
[He's so awkward when he's trying to be nice, makes me giggle.]
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Post by SYL on Nov 22, 2010 8:41:25 GMT -5
"He was just leaving," Syl waved a hand to dismiss Carlos, who promptly stood and made a hasty exit. "Something about stomach issues, you know," the red-head shrugged, dipping into his pocket to withdraw his broken phone.
He looked at it with disgust. Now the clock didn't even come on, the crack growing larger. Turning his gaze to Josh, he forced a tiny smile. "And who might you be? You look familiar, but my life has been such a blur lately."
Long nights of boozing and womanizing could do that to a person. Those days had to stop, he decided. Maybe not all together cutting liquor and ladies out of his life, after all they were the two L-words he wasn't afraid to say he enjoyed, but cutting back was always a viable option.
Head rested on his right hand, elbow on the table. "What brings you to Verona this time of night?" a familiar question, maybe a different answer.
[/justify]
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Post by (ノಠ益ಠ on Nov 22, 2010 9:08:01 GMT -5
Josh chuckled slightly at the other man's hasty departure. Some people. But then again, it was better to be absent of his company than having someone bitching about being in pain while they were in your company. "Tough luck," he mused, arching his brows as he glanced after the guy. Deciding a stranger he'd likely not encounter again wasn't of much interested, Joshua shrugged and turned his attention back to Syl.
"Phone troubles?" he asked with a dry smirk as he nodded at the cracked screen Syl was staring at. Joshua didn't really have much luck with mobile electronics. He was well-organized for the most part, but when he was busy and got too flustered, small devices were easily left behind in public places. He loved the computer, however, and didn't know how he'd get by without his baby. Which, ah, wasn't working thanks to the blackout. But he took comfort in the fact that it would be there when the lights came back on and such.
He nodded slightly. "Name's Joshua. We've only really met once, briefly, and I don't think I mentioned my name, so it's not a big deal." He chuckled a little.
"Thirst," he replied with dry amusement, in response to the question. "Thirst and boredom, I suppose. Not much to do with everyone running about like headless chickens in a panic." Really, living without power wasn't that horrid! Sure, it was kind of annoying, but you got used to it. "I usually avoid places such as this one, but I took the notion for tea, and so here I am." He shrugged slightly. "I don't suppose you have similar motives...?" It was definitely an open question.
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Post by freeziepop on Nov 22, 2010 9:25:28 GMT -5
Syl shrugged. "I don't tend to remember names anyway. Some people would probably say I have a learning disorder, others would say I'm just self-absorbed, it might be both and it might be neither," he snickered, shoving the phone back into his pocket and pulling out a sleek black cigarette case. "Do you mind?" he asked politely, opening it and withdrawing a long, thin cigarette.
His motives. Now there was a loaded question. What business did he have in Verona himself? Nothing, unless you counted almost crying out of sheer boredom. It was the kind of boring night where you put a bullet in your head just to see what was next.
"The tea here isn't bad," Syl decided he didn't care if Joshua had a problem with him smoking, and lit the end of his cig. He inhaled the soothing smoke, feeling calmer already. "Where did we meet before? Refresh my memory."
There were a number of places he'd been loitering at lately, and a few that he'd rather forget. He didn't feel like a fight; the crushing defeat at the hands of that heinous bitch still replayed in his mind like a movie. And there was no theater to march out of.
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Post by (ノಠ益ಠ on Nov 22, 2010 9:36:56 GMT -5
Chuckling, he nodded. "Fair enough." He was better with faces than he was names, but if you were memorable enough, Joshua could usually make note of what to call you. Considering he didn't really socialize much, he didn't have a long list of people to remember, and this was possibly the reason that he was getting better and better at face-name recall.
He shook his head when Syl pulled out the cigarette. Well, at least the guy asked. Some people were incredibly bold and snotty about their vices. "Nah, I don't mind," he said, shrugging. He hated the choking smell of cigarettes and would never smoke them himself, but he never tried to stop others from doing what they liked.
"Trainer Lounge," he responded, drumming his fingers on his thigh as he thought back to that day. Before he'd known about all that Team Death shit. It was funny; all three men that had fought within that room were now tied together by the same organization, one that the man in front of him led. How ironic. "I briefly recall the kicking of your Torchic," he mused, a light smile playing at the edge of his lips.
"Susumu was there, as well," Joshua recalled. "I saw you during the mess at the Plant, but there wasn't much time for chatting there." A dry laughed forced it's way from his mouth.
Remembering the comment about the tea not being bad, he took an experimental sip of his drink, then shrugged. "I've had better, but it's fine," he concluded, half to himself.
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Post by freeziepop on Nov 24, 2010 14:13:15 GMT -5
Syl stared long and hard at Josh, trying to determine his motives. He vaguely remembered kicking his Torchic, but he was either high or drunk that day, it was hard to tell. He finally shrugged, dismissing the incident entirely, and took a swig of the flask he kept in his jacket.
"That's right, you're one of my new recruits," it finally hit him, why Josh looked so familiar. Of course! "And Shamu too, although I think you're faring better than he is. At least I haven't had the pleasure of yelling at you yet, and really anonymity is better," he said between puffs of smoke, cigarette twitching between his fingers. "I just wish a certain someone wouldn't get on my nerves so much."
Why had he and Blaze started fighting, anyway? When had it begun? He didn't even remember anymore. All he knew was that Blaze hated his guts and would probably like to see him dead, and that wasn't an exaggeration. Syl himself had nothing against Blaze-- nothing more than he had against anybody else. He was an annoyance but he dealt with annoying people on a near-daily basis.
Syl shrugged again, taking a long drag of his cigarette and trying to blow the smoke away from Josh's face. "We're going to lose," he finally said. There was something in his voice, worried and calm at the same time.
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Post by (ノಠ益ಠ on Nov 24, 2010 14:35:36 GMT -5
He'd yelled at Shamu? Of course, Joshua had heard about someone fucking up, but he'd never really heard names. Now that it was practically confirmed, he didn't know what to think of the other boy. Depended on his motives, really, and as Joshua hadn't been standing there, he couldn't judge him too harshly. He'd probably remain slightly suspicious, but not let it get in the way of the fact that Shamu was, currently, an ally. This sounded good in his head, so he was satisfied for the moment.
"Someone bothering you from within?" Josh asked, brow furrowing slightly. There hadn't been too many people at the debriefing, that he'd seen. Of course, Joshua had no way of currently knowing that Blaze and Syl were somewhat of enemies, and so the 'someone' did not occur to him.
There was a pause in conversation, which didn't bother Joshua all that much. It wasn't really an awkward silence, so it was one that he could deal with. During the period where speech was absent, he took a glance around the cafe, recognized no one else, and then sipped his tea a little. He wondered briefly what his family were up to, then shut out the thought before it could carry too far. Some things were better left unknown.
The sudden subject of loss surprised him only momentarily. "Figured that might happen," he admitted with a sigh. "We sort of seemed drastically outnumbered." But he wouldn't back out merely because he wouldn't be on the winning side. "What happens then?" he wondered, in the back of his mind wondering if he even wanted to know.
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