sometimes people leave you halfway through the wood

[madskilled]

Comments

[positiveinfluence]

[He shakes his head. He doesn't intend to hold up Mickey with his bad mood and he needs a couple more drinks before he can even think about approaching sleep. He'll be fine.]

Nah, I'm okay. You go.

[slavophile]

( Mickey slaps one hand on Cooper's shoulder, gives him a pained, but subdued and understanding look, before leaving him alone.

William does research in the elevator on bars nearby and open bars nearby.

He finds the first one and doesn't try any harder. Like Mickey, he's tired, but also relieved. And maybe in shock, too, from seeing Bridget and Spike die. He slips onto a stool without looking at Cooper sitting next to him. It's a small bar (literally) and it's one of three seats there or small tables. )

[positiveinfluence]

[Cooper has had a few more drinks by the time William arrives. His mood has even picked up somewhat as a result. As he glances over and spots William sitting next to him, still can't help the bitter edge to his words when he speaks.]

Well. Of all the gin joints in all the world.

[slavophile]

( William couldn't have called this, but what in his life could he have called. )

I walked into yours. You're alive.

[positiveinfluence]

Yep.

[The "P" lands with a pop as he lifts a finger to signal the bartender for them both.]

So are you. Congrats.

[slavophile]

Some days it feels worthy of being congratulated. When I do things that make it worth me being alive.

( He didn't ask for all that. He does use quotation marks next, though. )

"Garrett" wasn't here with a bachelor party, was he?

[positiveinfluence]

Nope.

[Complete with that same pop on the "P".]

He was there for the same reason I was.

[slavophile]

Spike's dead. That probably makes people like you happy, right? Spike and Bridget, whose parents were killed in front of her. That's the only reason she threw up the boundary spell.

( Just to keep things clear. )

[positiveinfluence]

Ah, I thought it might be Spike. For the record, mass murderer. Big mass murderer. But no, I'm not happy about any of this.

[It doesn't justify what happened to Bridget but he feels the need to point that out.]

I wanted to talk Bridget down. I didn't want her to die.

[slavophile]

And what did the other hunters want?

( He may not like what you think you stand for, but he will drink the drink you bought him. So. Maybe that's not taking a stand. )

[positiveinfluence]

I think it's fairly obvious what the other hunters wanted.

[They got it, for the most part. He knocks back the whiskey, swallowing hard as he picks at the nuts on the bar.]

It wasn't perfect, but they think it made a point.

[slavophile]

And what do you think.

( He peruses the small menu. )

[positiveinfluence]

I think it was a fucking shit show. And we shouldn't have been there.

[And if he intends to say that, right to Monroe's face, at his next available opportunity.]

[slavophile]

Where. At the Elders meeting? Here in London? Hanging around a peaceful event? Or, D. All of the above.

( He'll get past harping on this. Just let him get it out.

He does indicate for two more shots and -- whatever beer they have on tap. Two. )

[positiveinfluence]

A and C. I'm allowed to travel.

[He could have been in London for perfectly innocent reasons thank you very much.]

But the other two, no. We shouldn't have been there.

[slavophile]

( He's right. But, he doesn't sound like he's putting on airs. He sounds sincere. )

I believe you did this for the right reasons. Once.

[positiveinfluence]

[He makes a face because he likes to think he still does. He didn't kill anyone in that mess. Theoretically, his hands are still clean.

But that's not the point.]

How do you know I don't now?

[slavophile]

Because, you're with them.

( But, their philosophy isn't his. )

I could tell Isaac you're here in the bar with me.

[positiveinfluence]

[Cooper raises an eyebrow before shifting to face him more.]

And what would he do about it, do you think?

[slavophile]

I don't know. You're here, you're a hunter, he'd be interested.

( But, what would he do. What would he really do. When he turns, William does the same, and under the low light of the hole-in-the-wall London bar, this close to him, William sees for the first time that he'd be interested, too. But not because he's a hunter. )

[positiveinfluence]

I don't think he'd want to actually talk to a hunter that Allison hadn't vetted herself first. At least, that would be my thought if I was a werewolf playing with fire.

[But that being said.]

Honestly, unless I intended to kill you - which for the record, I don't - I think he'd probably tell you to stay off my radar. Not let me buy you a drink.

[Oh, look, he's drunk enough to start semi-flirting.]

[slavophile]

I walked right into your gin joint radar.

( Oh look at.. that. )

You can get my next. ( He shouldn't stay leaned forward or close. ) I'm not easily killed, if you were looking to end my life tonight. I could take you.

[positiveinfluence]

I'm sure you could.

[He lifts his hand to flag the bartender again.]

Good thing I'm not trying to kill you.

[slavophile]

Yeah. Good for you.

(He finishes the first drink and downs the other whiskey he'd ordered. )

What happened after? You and Garrett took off.

[positiveinfluence]

With Bridget down, we could get out. He didn't really want to stay put.

[And honestly, he was not in the best head space so he let himself be lead.]

I had to find my dad. Make sure he was okay.