…two idiots meet in a bar

[epistemological]

In another universe, Daniel Jacobi meets Warren Kepler in a bar on the second anniversary of his life falling apart. But in this universe, Daniel’s attention is grabbed by something, or someone rather, within the bar well before Kepler would show his face.

Because there’s a guy at the bar who looks like death warmed over talking to a tape recorder like it’s a particularly annoying little sibling that won’t play with its own friends. The fact that he blinks and looks over towards Jacobi at one point before clearly shaking it off and going back to his drink…

Probably nothing.

Comments

[mrballisticsdummy]

Jacobi is drunk but....not that drunk. The guy is definitely talking to a tape recorder. And that is enough to kill his whole vibe. Honestly, Jacobi thought the crazies only came out after dark and it's just past noon.

But call him intrigued. (Or drunk. Probably that.) He takes his glass and slides over to the other man. "You know, you're in the right city for some hipster nonsense but carrying around an honest to God tape recorder might be a little much."

[epistemological]

...Jon wouldn't know being chat up from being chat down (which, is that a thing? he doesn't know that either) and he's always a little prickly to start. That's why when the man comes over and starts mocking him for something he literally cannot do anything about-

"If I was carrying it around, I would have left it behind some miles ago. And what business is it of yours anyway? I don't see it affecting anyone's blood alcohol levels..."

And yet his tone says 'hopefully'.

[mrballisticsdummy]

Jacobi just lets him go on and takes a slow drink, watching him over the top of the glass.

He continues, unfazed. "Look, man. You're allowed to do what you want. It's just - you know it's weird, right? That's something you recognize?"

[epistemological]

There's a rather withering look on his face from that and he almost snaps something, but it's like he doesn't have the energy for it. He can't help a soft snort as he shakes his head.

"I've been so far past 'weird' for over a year that it's hardly worth considering. I 'recognize' that not six hours ago, I was in the boot of a stolen police car being driven by two serial killers. I also recognize that I may have had too many gin and tonics."

[mrballisticsdummy]

Oh, well then. Jacobi rests his arm on the bar, clearly intrigued. "Okay, well, that definitely deserves another drink. But here's a question for you. And it's a really serious one."

He clears his throat. "Was your best friend with you?" And he gestures to the recorder with a grin.

[epistemological]

If the look before was withering, we're now at properly withered, like he might start tumbling by on the wind any moment now.

"Oh no, as I had very little to report while I was unconscious. I'm sure it showed up as soon as something interested started happening. It usually does."

[mrballisticsdummy]

Jacobi grins through that look because he can't help it. He has no idea what the guy is talking about, but he seems serious and not insane, and that's absolutely caught his full attention and has ensured that his own pity party has ended for the moment.

"Is being kidnapped by serial killers not interesting enough?"

[epistemological]

"Given it's the... third? time?"

He just breathes out tiredly and finishes his drink in one shot. Before-

"No, fourth, actually."

[mrballisticsdummy]

That amusement turns to concern. True concern. Not pity. Not sympathy. Actual worry.

"The fourth time you've been kidnapped? You have the worst luck. What are you? Some sort of - diplomat or someone important? Do your parents have money?"

[epistemological]

"...by serial killers, yes, do keep up," and he'll raise his glass to see if the bartender will fill it up again. The man does just that as Jon turns towards the curious stranger.

"If they had money, that kind of money, I've never seen it. But there'd be no one to give it to them, as all of my family is dead. What I am is..."

His shoulders sink.

"-is tired."

[mrballisticsdummy]

"Cheers to that, weird man," he says and slides a bill to the bartender to pay for the other man's drink.

He tips his drink towards him. "So what are you doing here? And not - getting revenge on that."

[epistemological]

There's a blink, and then a glance at the money being exchanged, a frown following it because-

"You didn't need to- I wasn't fishing for anything. So you know."

Jacobi, and really anyone who's actually looking at him, would know that this is just not the sort of thing that happens to him. Ever, really. Both people buying drinks for him and, uh...

People being nice to him.

[mrballisticsdummy]

"Yeah, you seem the type to refuse, so I just - didn't ask," he says with a shrug. "Besides, if something good can come out of this day, even if it's just buying you a drink, then so be it."

[epistemological]

"That obvious?" he asks with a slightly awkward chuckle and a shake of his head. Then he's waiting for the drink to come, picking it up as soon as it arrives to drain a good third of it.

Then something registers.

"Something... good?" A snort. "Anything I've said sounds good?"

[mrballisticsdummy]

"Nope. That's why the drink counts."

He reaches over to gently pat his shoulder before turning and ordering another for himself.

[epistemological]

A single snort before he takes another third of that drink and breathes out tiredly with a rub of his temple.

"I feel as if I should be more polite and ask about you, but I'm gathering you'd rather I do anything but that. So which impossibly ridiculous thing that is my life would you care to hear about next?"

[mrballisticsdummy]

"I mean, you could start with a name. That's usually how people begin these things."

Because he's right. Jacobi had been doing a great job of forgetting why he was there and what day it is. He's not keen on dredging all that back up.

[epistemological]

"I didn't give my-" and he pauses, chuckling into his drink for a moment before he takes a sip, sighs, and nods.

"Well, all right, I suppose not." He'll hold out a (burn-scared) hand.

"Jonathan Sims. Head Archivist of the Magnus Institute in London."

[mrballisticsdummy]

He takes his hand, noting the scars. He can spot burns from a mile away, after all.

"Daniel Jacobi. Unemployed!"

He keeps his hand for half a second longer than he normally would before picking up his drink. "That's - kind of why I'm here."

Jon had been right about Jacobi not wanting to talk about his own problems, but he can't help but slip in that little bit of info.

[epistemological]

Then the little circular holes are probably really curious looking.

"Yes, well, we can both envy one another our positions. As I am also here due to my... work situation."

[mrballisticsdummy]

Everything is curious, but at least the burns are familiar. And Jacobi finally has a name to go on.

"You think I envy you, Mr. Kidnapped a Bunch of Times? No thanks. I'll take my own pity party. Besides," he adds with a smirk, "Archivist sounds like a nerd job. Why are you all the way out here?"

[epistemological]

That gets a snort.

"I don't think that. I think you've heard enough not to. But not enough to understand why I might say that I envy you quite yet."

He'll finish his drink.

"And I was traveling to follow after the trail of my predecessor. I was referred here from an institute in China."

[mrballisticsdummy]

"More nerd talk. Got it."

He's finally starting to feel the drink in his head, and he rubs at his face.

"Do you want to - take a walk or something? Get some real food? You can tell me why you envy a stranger with a mysterious past on the way."

[epistemological]

Oh. Hm. Well-

"I won't say no to a walk, or to real food, if you know a good spot for it. Something to sop up the alcohol is probably wise, given I'm traveling alone."

He glances at Jacobi.

"...you're not all that mysterious. More... avoidant, if I may say so."

[mrballisticsdummy]

He leaves a tip for the bartender and leads the way out. "There's a really good food truck with tacos that will change your life a couple of blocks away," he promises, holding the door.

As he does, he catches a glance at another man, closing the door to his car. He is, without hyperbole, the most handsome man Jacobi has ever seen in his life. So much that he actually stares for half a second longer than he should. And he has a feeling that if he stays, something might happen.

But he makes a choice and his attention, and laugh, is back on Jon. "And look. It's not avoidance if I just keep asking you all the questions instead of answering a single one."