Round Two | action, Quad

[werepanther]

[It's late at night - close to curfew - and Tom's sitting on the grass in the Quad. Beer bottle in hand, he counts the stars before chugging down another sip or two. There's actually a lot of things wrong with this picture: for one thing? Tom's still on alcoholic probation. As in, he's not supposed to touch the stuff.

Yet he did. And he's currently on his second bottle. Crap.

Tom's not really one for talking - especially when he's in werekitty form - so he won't notice people right away. Still, it's a little hard to miss a 6' tall werepanther casually chugging beer like there's no tomorrow. He looks up at the sky again, double-checks the number of stars, and then... takes another sip.

So much for upholding his promises.]

Comments

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[iam-yourdagger.livejournal.com]

[Tandy's just arrived, and is as confused and concerned as ever, her messy blond hair up in a messy ponytail, in her civilian clothes that she usually wears when she and Cloak don't have vigilante work to do. She has the course catalog clutched in one hand, and the other anxiously shoved into her jean's pocket.

She's drawn to the Quad by the general curiosity that inhabits her body. She has the letter she received upon arrival shoved into one of her pockets, with the mild case of detection ringing within her. Someone with great turmoil...was nearby.

She's drawn to them.]

Hello?

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[werepanther]

[It takes Tom a while to notice her; he's pretty absorbed in what he's doing. Once he does, though, he waves at her and motions for her to sit down.] Hey.

Enjoying the view?

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[iam-yourdagger.livejournal.com]

Hey. [She looks at the seat he gestures to and feels unsure...before sucking it up and going over and sitting down next to him. She drops the catalog to the floor, along with the jacket she'd been carrying as well.]

Maybe. It's not too bad, but I prefer enjoying a view with my usual fifty-cent cup of coffee from down the street in...the city.

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[werepanther]

Just got here, then. [It's a statement, not a question--confirmed by the giant catalog beside her.] Garden's not that bad, all things concerned.

There're worse places to be.

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[iam-yourdagger.livejournal.com]

I'm not so sure just yet. I mean...one minute I was in the city with my partner...the next, I'm here. But... [She looks back at Tom.] Guess you're right.

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[werepanther]

Definitely am. I've been here for... a year and a half now? [He's clearly not alright, but helping a newcomer's more important than wallowing in misery.]

So what do ya wanna know 'bout this place?

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[iam-yourdagger.livejournal.com]

[Tandy doesn't respond to his question on her curiosity of the Garden. She instead looks at him slowly, clearly...and finally says:]

Should you be drinking?

[ridethe.livejournal.com]

[Still adjusting to life back at the Garden, Light has been pretty restless lately. She hasn't been sleeping very well despite the fact that she has both Serah and Snow here, unfortunately. She's taken to going for walks or thumbing through the various books she's purchased on her missions. Tonight, her walk finds her in the Quad, footsteps light as usual and posture stiff.

What she hadn't expected to see was Tom in werepanther form drinking a beer on the grass. She stops where she is and watches him for a moment. He wasn't supposed to be drinking. Her first reaction is a small flare up of irritation, but that's easy quelled by the fact that he mostly likely wouldn't be drinking if something wasn't wrong.

Pushing her thoughts to the back of her mind, she starts his way with heavier footsteps. The last thing she wants to do is startle Tom, really. Once she reaches him, she sits down beside him; not too close, but not far enough away to make it uncomfortable. She moves her gaze to him for a few beats before turning it to the stars.

Asking if he's alright would be rather stupid since he obviously isn't, so she opts for something casual instead.] Hey.

[werepanther]

[Ah, crap. Of all people to catch out here this late... and with his forbidden drink too... Tom sheepishly smiles back at her, pulling up one leg to his chest. It'll only be a few minutes until she gives him the whole lecture. Or something. People usually liked the lectures.] Hey.

Couldn't sleep? [well, that was an obvious question with an obvious answer - she wouldn't be up now if that were the case. Right?]

[ridethe.livejournal.com]

[Surprisingly, Lightning isn't feeling a lecture right now. That may change depending on their conversation goes, though. She keeps her legs bent, knees about six inches from the ground and hands rooted to the ground behind her.

It isn't long before she returns her full attention to him. She may not be ready to lecture him yet, but she isn't smiling either.] Haven't been able to lately. [And then she inclines her head towards his beer.] Rough day?

[werepanther]

[He follows her gaze to the bottle before slowly putting it on the concrete.] Just... a rough week. Sorry. [He doesn't feel the need to elaborate on an apology - especially since she knows why he's on probation in the first place - so he instead looks up at the sky.]

... There's an extra bottle if you want a drink.

[ridethe.livejournal.com]

[Her eyes follow the bottle as he sets it on the ground. There are a lot of things she could do. She could kick into a speech about how drinking isn't good for him and how he's on probation, but he knows that already. She just shakes her head at the offer instead.] Wouldn't want to waste it.

Up for talking about what's going on? [Her tone is casual, but tense. If he doesn't want to talk about it, she'll drop it and keep him company instead.]

[werepanther]

Heh. Got it. [Thankfully, he only has three bottles with him--any more, and he suspected it would've been bad news for him.]

Kinda. [he shrugs, glancing at her] Just trying to block out some memories. Nothing particularly big. [which is kind of a blatant lie, considering he'd been really good about the alcohol until now.]

[fierybluebird]

[And now the kitty has a phoenix perched on him. Normally you'd think even a firebird would be scared of a big giant cat, but Marco's father is a HUGE alcoholic. As in literally so addicted he was on life support, IVs, breathing apparatus and required round-the-clock nurse care.... and still kept drinking, refusing to even talk to fellow allies unless they brought him booze.]

Croo? [Curious headtilt.]

[werepanther]

[Tom's thankfully not at that level, even if he relapsed. Glancing at the bird, Tom can't help laughing as he sets the drink down.]

Hey there, little guy. You lost?

[fierybluebird]

Chirp! [Shakes his head no, WAY too amused at being viewed as a bird again separate from his normal self, and gestures with a taloned foot at the drink and then back.]

Kree??

[werepanther]

[Tom makes a face, his tail thumping to the ground as he looks at his new friend.] Nuh-uh. There's no way I'm giving you a drink.

[... He might be riding the wrong conclusion train.]

[fierybluebird]

[No no, shakes his head several times and then cocks his head and a eye, trying to read the label.]

[werepanther]

Oh. That. [he holds the bottle up - it's nowhere near a classy brand, but it's Tom's favorite brand in this world. It's got a reputation for being a typical "rough house bar brawl" kind of beer.] Here?

[deundeaded.livejournal.com]

I believe it is rather inadvisable to drink alcohol on Garden premises.

[]

[werepanther]

[He jumps, glancing over his shoulder to look at her. He's not really aware who knows around here and who doesn't - it's not a well-kept secret or anything - so he guiltily sets the drink aside.] Inadvisable, but not illegal. For us, anyways.

How're you doing tonight?

[deundeaded.livejournal.com]

This is true.

I am well, thank you. I am simply enjoying a pleasant evening. And yourself?

[werepanther]

Enjoying the stars. They're kinda nice tonight. ... You're welcome to sit with me if you'd like.

[deundeaded.livejournal.com]

Yes, of course. [] The day has felt long indeed - it's nice to sit and relax outdoors.

[werepanther]

Exactly. It's... also kind of been a long week. [he pauses for a moment] But I don't think we've met, have we?

Instructor Tom Bronson. [holds out a paw] I teach Boxing here.