sweethymns | Pictures in the Dark

[On the other hand, looking up upon hearing his name, Ryan can't hide the way his smile immediately fades when he sees Michael. A flood of emotions slam into him all at once, bringing in memories and associations he wasn't mentally prepared to be slapped in the face with.

His brow furrows, but he doesn't sound irritated (yet). Just very, very confused.]

...Michael? What the fuck?

[It nicely summarizes his feelings right now. He looks him up and down, as if his brain doesn't know what to do with him. That's Michael Camden, alright.]

What are you doing here? [He glances between Iona and Oren, as if they'll supplement his questions with answers as well.] Why's this guy here?

[Iona blinks because she's equally confused by Ryan's reaction. She looks at Michael and then at Oren and then back at Ryan.]

He... Works here if that's what you're asking?

[There's that sinking feeling in her gut that tells the witch that something's gonna go wrong...]

Edited 2016-06-12 06:07 (UTC)

[... Which is why Oren steps in front of Iona as if guarding her and looks between the two young men, his gaze steely as ever and his words coming out even more curt if possible.]

We have problem.

[Not a question, a conclusion made from a quick observation and probably stating the obvious.

Although Oren's tone is usually monotone and made even more lifeless by his choppy sentence fragments, there's something that comes across that clearly says, "Don't start anything or else."]

[And suddenly Oren blocks Ryan's view of Michael, which is not acceptable at the moment, thank you very much. He's not going to have a blast from the past just show up in a cafe full of magic and powered people and not ask about it.]

Woah, hey, there's no problem -- that is, unless Mikey over there wants to start something. [He doubts it, the guy is too stuck in his own shell to do anything that bold. He leans far to the left, so he can peak around the golem and make a gesture indicating towards Michael.]

You work here? ...Why? [What's a guy like you possibly doing here, is the implication.]

[He's not dumb; he knows what Ryan is really asking, behind that patronizing tone of his.]

I really don't see how that's your business. Plus, shouldn't I be asking you the same thing? Why you're here?

[Michael moves around and in front of Oren, muttering a "it's fine" to the golem, though from his tone one can easily tell that he's not really fine, seeing Ryan.

The Grind was a nice little escape from his own reality, even if it was only during the weekends, and briefly at that. But seeing Ryan only makes him think of his sister, and memories like that were still raw and painful. That he's here, dragging in things he'd rather not think about in a place where he didn't think he'd have to.

He sets the mug down in front of Ryan, calmly, but anyone can tell from his body language that this is pretty uncomfortable for him. Why is he here? He thought only people with odd abilities really belonged here? Was it a mistake?]

Edited 2016-06-12 06:34 (UTC)

[Iona is at a loss at how to jump into the conversation and seeing Michael step in front of Oren to confront Ryan is worrisome to say the least (gonna slide his drink out of the way, just in case).

Oren doesn't try to stop Michael and lets him move around him. He's studying Michael's body language, listening to his voice. This is not a happy reunion whatsoever although perhaps they never liked each other to begin with.

... And neither of them are aware of each others abnormalities.

Definitely a problem.

He closes his eyes. Opens them again. Puts a hand on Michael's shoulder.]

... We do not probe customers.

[And then he looks at Ryan.]

Employee's privacy, also considered.

[He sets his jaw, looking over his shoulder to glance at Oren through the corner of his vision. He briefly considers protesting, but perhaps wisely decides against it. Maybe if he just detaches himself from the situation, Ryan will go away, things will go back to normal, and he doesn't have to entertain unpleasant memories.

(It's going to bother him not knowing why he's here, though, but he can live with it if he doesn't have to see him again.]

...Yeah, I understand.

[And so he just wordlessly turns around and goes over to dry off some glassware that had just been through the rinse.]

[He frowns as Michael walks away, irritation flashing in his eyes. It's just like that guy to act that way, when this is obviously something that shouldn't be brushed off. Whereas Michael retreats, Ryan just presses even more.]

Hey, no, you're not gonna just walk away and leave it like that, Michael. It's been five years, and you're not gonna even say more than ten sentences to me?

[Ryan looks at Oren, his previous levity gone, replaced by a stubbornness that's just as unique to him.]

He's not just an "employee"; I know him. I went to school with him. I dated his sister.

[He tries not to feel anything when he brings up Anna, but that's like asking the sun not to rise.] I'm willing to share my story if he does the same. But knowing him, I bet he'll just clam up and ignore me. [He calls over to Michael, who is indeed blatantly ignoring him, and won't respond.] Isn't that right?

[His sister?

That makes Iona stop for a second. And then it clicks. She goes over to Michael and taps him lightly on the shoulder.]

Let's go to the back.

[Nothing more or nothing less. Iona has thoughtless tendencies, but not when it comes to something so obviously painful.]

[Oren takes the drink that was intended for Ryan. The gelato's all melted now... But instead of disposing of it, there was still a good use for it.

There's a mini-fridge behind the counter and he kneels down to take out a carton of vanilla bean ice cream. In response to Ryan attempting to call over to Michael, the golem simply replies to him as Iona leads Michael to the back.]

Don't disturb other customers.

[He doesn't even look at Iona when he feels her tapping him on the shoulder. He just finishes drying off a glass and puts it back in its place, responding with:]

...Okay.

[He doesn't really care how he looks right now, if it seems like he's a coward or running away from someone obviously wanting to confront him about an important matter. When he had heard Ryan mention his sister, it was as if voicing her made the pain all the more prevalent, unearthing everything he was struggling to keep buried under a layer of composure.

Insensitive asshole. He hadn't changed one bit.

Michael doesn't need any more encouragement. He disappears into the back moments later.]

[When Ryan has his sights set on something, it's hard to pry his attention away. When he sees Michael begin to disappear into the back, he calls out one more time, peace and quiet be damned:]

Hey! Hey! Michael!

[But he's gone, and Ryan's irritation has turned into frustration as he leans back in his seat with a growl emanating from the back of his throat, low and guttural -- a bit like a tiger's.]

Damn it. [He's lowered his voice now, but only because he knows doing otherwise is just futile.] Just as freaking unapproachable and frustrating as before. Guy hasn't changed a bit.

[It's said more to himself than anyone else. Ryan doesn't understand how a guy like him could have been related to a girl like Anna.]

[Ryan is met with the loud whirring blades of the blender. Looks like Oren's turning his affogato drink into a coffee milkshake. With Ryan's outburst, some of the customers have looked up with interest and fascination, but they know better than to ask questions and contend with Oren. Besides, it is an unwritten rule of the Grind to not probe other customers for their stories unless they knew each other.

The golem pours out the newly made concoction and adds crushed espresso beans on top of the whipped cream garnish. With a straw on the side, he slides over the coffee milkshake to Ryan.]

On the house.

[Maybe it could cool down the temper at any rate.]

[Ryan had been too lost in his own thoughts and frustration that he didn't even realize Oren had made the shake until it slides to a stop in front of him. He frowns -- not because he doesn't appreciate the gesture -- but because all of a sudden both his appetite and his sweet tooth had died. (And that's an impressive feat by itself.)

But it's still a distraction, a way of venting his irritation by demolishing a milkshake, and so Ryan grabs as the straw and prods at the bottom of the glass, like a kid would do.

He mutters a 'thanks', but isn't ready to let the subject go just yet.]

Out of all places to run into him, it had to be here. [A lengthy sip of his shake goes here, and his eyes flicker up to look at the golem again.] And he still won't give me the time of day. Bastard.

[Whether or not the shake is actually helping him cool down is up for debate, but at least he's less shouty and more sulky now.]

Edited 2016-06-12 07:44 (UTC)

... Met us by coincidence.

[... Is what Oren's explanation is going to be. No need to rehash the wendigo episode.]

Works here on weekends.

[And he's keeping Michael's time powers to himself. Now that he and Ryan have met in this space, that revelation will come in time.]

Guess you're both coincidences.

[He scoffs, but it's completely humorless. It's obvious that the energy he had when he arrived is gone, and replaced by a dry cynicism.]

Guess so. Small world.

[He goes quiet for a moment, making his straw circle around in his shake, his thoughts elsewhere. When he does speak again, it's difficult to read his tone as anything other than demoralized.]

Could have done without that particularly coincidence, though. It was like seeing a... ghost.

[It's a fitting metaphor for the past; lingering despite its transience.]

You know the guy just up and disappeared after Anna- [He pauses.] -after his sister passed away. Didn't even bother thinking that there were others that could have used his support. His family for one, they all could have just leaned on each other. But Michael just walked away. Same as what he's doing now. Like I said, hasn't changed a bit.

[Mysterious powers or no, maybe it doesn't matter.]

[Oren remembers what Iona has told him about Michael's time powers and based on what she said or what he happens to overhear... Well, there's plenty of reasons Michael walked away. It wouldn't be enough for Ryan in this case, but there are reasons nonetheless.]

Humans different. Coping is different.

[Iona had to go through several different ways of coping herself. She's still is.]

... Iona made this place. For people who need a place. To cope.

[He shakes his head at that.]

No, no, you see, there's a difference between running away and coping. [He makes another gesture towards the back, where Michael and Iona had disappeared.] You don't know him like I do. I didn't come here to toss him into the grinder about the past, because I know that he... that it's been difficult for him.

[Michael was in the car with Anna when it happened. He doesn't like to think about it, but even Ryan would admit that such a thing is unimaginably hard to deal with. But there's only so much he can forgive.]

But he wasn't the only one who loved her, you know. She had a whole family's worth of people. She had me. And maybe some of those people wanted to talk with him, and maybe his running away made it more painful for all of them in the long run.

[All he can see is history repeating itself, here. If Michael has powers, he wants to know, not because he's a gossip or a busybody, but because it would be a nice change of pace, to talk to someone he once knew who could relate. He has a tough time with it too, despite his demeanor; maybe it'd be worth keeping in touch over. But instead, he watches the guy turn tail on him and disappear before he can get a word in.

Just like five years ago.]

Whatever. [He's turned this into a rant, and replaces everything with a sense of apathy. Another long sip of milkshake.] You know what they say, Oren. People don't really change.

... No.

["No they don't," would be the expected answer.]

No, they do.

[and then there's that]

Yeah? [He should yield his opinion to a guy who claims to be 500 years old, since Oren probably has a bit more experience than he does. But Ryan remains sarcastic and cynical in times like these, not to mention stubborn.]

I'll believe it when I see it, golem man.

Not very patient?

[He's kind of staring at Ryan's shake as if expecting him to at least try it at some point. He'll bring up something else in the meanwhile though.]

Power. Ability. Discovered after her death?

I've got all the patience in the world for things that deserve it.

[Meaning that no, he's not a very patient young man. People have told him that time and time again, but it's a flaw he's always had to struggle with. (Or just completely ignore.)

He stirs his shake around with his straw again, then takes a sip, before answering.]

Yeah, years after. Actually, just kinda recently, in the grand scheme of things.

[So much has happened since then, though, that it feels like time has been swept up in a whirlwind. Between the emergence of his powers and finding Alanna, who introduced him to strange realities, worlds, and people, he's experienced more in one short year than he has throughout the rest of his life.]

Still raw then. Wounds.

[Five years isn't that long in retrospect.]

And much to learn.

[He deftly sidesteps the comment about wounds still being raw. It's not untrue, but rather, because it's true, he doesn't want to linger on it. Instead, he bulldozes past it, forcing a strained grin.]

Well, I'm still young. [-he says, as if that's a valid excuse. In a way, it is and isn't.] Got plenty of time to learn. [Oren's basically repeating what Alanna has told him countless times. He wonders if it's an old person thing.]

Drink your milkshake.

[Any sagely advice seems to stop there for the moment though. Now it's like Rock Mom telling him to eat correctly.]

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1/2 you're probably gonna get a lot of these

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1/2ing all over this thread

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1/2 for days

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