[SE] home in time for dinner

there will be scrapes and sutures; viciousness and victory

"Well that's depressing," Ronin says, wrinkling his nose at the imposter lemon cocktail and following suit with his husband to slouch back into his seat, stretching his arm around Remi and leaning in to press a very alcoholic kiss against his temple. "I guess if she asks, we can at least say that the one I tried was the winner, given that I could finish it." It says nothing about the cocktail's flavour, of course, but if this was for those youths that frequented the Hanged Man, Ronin honestly doubts that will matter very much.

Letting out a rough laugh and nodding his enthusiastic agreement, the Knight only pauses to thank their server as she brings out the chowder and the grilled cheese, Ronin snagging half of the latter so he can try to line his stomach with something, even if it's much too late for that. "I agree. The second we get another lily, or one of Vi's Roses, we ought to try for the next area," he says softly. "Until then, though, you should keep hold of that sword from Mort. Never know when you're going to need something like that, with all the fights we keep getting summoned into."

RONIN

for 1000 nights i've been a restless soul

"Oh good. You can use that as one of your..." Frowning at the table, Remi glances over his shoulder at the Knight as if the sight of his husband might jog his memory. It works, as it happens, leaving the Bastion grinning as he continues. "-compliment sandwiches. You can tell her the cocktail was good, that she absolutely cannot date Jack, and that....y'know, her hair looks nice." No doubt Ronin would come up with something better to round things out.

Humming his thanks as well, now that he hadn't seen Jack in a few minutes, now that the Bastion was actually interested in his food, he'd be quite thankful to know that Ronin had opted for this over a salad. "I wonder what it will be like." Almost inhaling half of his sandwich before having realized it, Remi had to make a conscious effort not to hoover down the rest of it.

"Are you only saying that because you're worried you might accidentally kill me if you keep it?" Reaching for a spoon and giving his chowder a lazy stir, he glances over his shoulder at his husband, eyebrows raised. "Because...usually when I'm summoned it's only for defence and with your powers not always being as effective..."

there will be scrapes and sutures; viciousness and victory

Raising his eyebrows expectantly as he waits for Remi to come up with the right word, Ronin finds a laugh rumbling out of him even if he's still very unhappy about this whole Jack business. "Right, right. I think that'll work just perfect, actually. I'm glad you brought it up." Pausing to enjoy his sandwich, it's a silence that draws out longer than expected as both Taliesins find themselves preoccupied (naturally) with their food.

"I reckon it'll be weird and barren at first, and then full of bullshit that wants to kill us." It's an educated guess if not a very exciting one, Ronin picking up the second half of his sandwich and pausing with it halfway to his mouth when the other man's question hits. Brows furrowing, he shrugs not unlike a sulky teenager.

"Yes," he says, grumpy but honest. "It might be. I just don't like the idea of keeping something that has a one in ten chance of killing you if I mess up. I can handle a lot of pressure, but that's a lot," he admits. "If you really think it's for the best, I will, but I won't be comfortable about it."

RONIN

for 1000 nights i've been a restless soul

Giving Ronin his best see? I listen when you tell me things smile, Remi tucks contentedly into his food, trying his best not to think about the sorts of things they might find hidden within it should Ronin's conversation with Flora not go well.

"Oh yeah? See I thought it would be the opposite. Full of bullshit and then weirdly barren." Smirking over his shoulder and rolling his eyes affectionately, he glances at their table, very much wishing for something normal to drink. At the risk of insulting their daughter, Remi waves their server over, requesting two glasses of water.

Finding it difficult not to cover his husband's entire face in kisses for his sudden broody sulk, Remi instead contents himself with just one, placed intentionally at the corner of Ronin's mouth. "If it was anyone else, I would say the risk is worth it. I'd say to imagine a situation where you didn't have it and someone died, but..." Raising his eyebrows, he gives his husband a thoughtful look. "..with you, that isn't such a worry." If Ronin were to make such a mistake, or not do enough, he could still reclaim lost souls.

Within reason, of course.

"It's a shame we can't get a few seconds warning before being channelled." Glancing up as two glasses of water are set down, Remi smiles at their server. "That way we could just put it somewhere in the houseboat within reach."

there will be scrapes and sutures; viciousness and victory

Not having even registered (yet) that razors in their dinner might be a potential fallout from his upcoming chat with Flora, the Knight merely enjoys the rest of his grilled cheese and takes up the spoon for his chowder. "You never know," he says with a smirk, "we could both be wrong, and it's just bullshit from start to finish." It seems equally as likely as their other ideas, right?

Not bothering to hide his sigh of relief as Remi relents and orders them some water, Ronin accepts the kiss to the corner of his mouth with a knowing little glare at his husband. Luckily enough for the Bastion, one kiss is all it takes to soothe his grumpiness, even if the outcome isn't one he'd have personally chosen. "Fine, fine," he relents, turning his head to catch Remi's lips in a real kiss, brief and chaste as it might be. "Here's hoping I get lucky the next time I need to use it as well, then."

Nodding his thanks to the server as she brings their water, Ronin pauses to take a long and sorely needed sip, before getting started on his chowder. "Mm, that's all well and good, but we don't always get channelled from the houseboat. I guess if it's with one of us, there's half a chance."

RONIN

for 1000 nights i've been a restless soul

Grinning, Remi raps on the wooden table. It had occurred to him before that the Family might all be bluffing; Dahlia had attacked him once, but perhaps she too had just gotten lucky. Besides that, what display of power had they ever seen?

Reaching to softly cup Ronin's cheek, the Bastion presses his fingertips softly into his husband's hair as he deepens the kiss. "Well, if you wanted, you could always get lucky tonight instead." He hums a touch wickedly before letting his hand fall away, and should it brush casually across Ronin's lap on the way, so be it.

Raising his eyebrows and reluctantly nodding his agreement, Remi too reaches for his water. "How about this? At home we keep it safely locked away, and when we're together just out like this, you don't bring it." It seemed both the safest and most sensible plan. "Although honestly, I wonder if I could kill myself with it." Did Remi love himself the right sort of way to fulfill the clause? He wasn't so sure, not that he wanted to test it.

Setting his water down as Flora began to wander over, Remi sipped in a quick breath before glancing at Ronin. Good luck, he mouthed before rising, wanting to take advantage of the opportunity to cage Jack in the storage room without Flora knowing.

~FIN