sometimes people leave you halfway through the wood

[madskilled]

Comments

[slavophile]

It's not a guilty drink. Do you feel guilty?

( You didn't hear him call you cute but mean to call you tired? Good, let's just keep moving. )

[positiveinfluence]

[Oh he definitely heard you call him cute.]

I don't feel guilty. But I'm supposed to be the bad guy, remember?

[He's mostly kidding about him being the bad guy.]

[slavophile]

I think we both know that being the bad guy doesn't always make someone the bad guy. You regret being here, you probably regret joining up altogether. And unless you're just waiting to pull a knife out of your boot, I don't believe you are.

( But, he could also be playing right into that very mesmerizing face. )

And, unless you have designs, that makes this innocent, right?

[positiveinfluence]

I guess you're right.

[He reaches for his drink again, finishing off the last one.]

I just don't like regrets. And I certainly don't like being one.

[slavophile]

Is that what you think this would be. Like, I'd see you as a regret. You've seen you.

( Every day in the mirror. )

[positiveinfluence]

Yeah, but it's not all about that.

[He knows how this goes.]

I could be the hottest guy on earth and there could still be regrets.

[slavophile]

Maybe. I've had those, too. But, I can promise you this wouldn't be that. If you were thinking. Because I'm thinking. I've been thinking.

( It's kind of hard not to. He also kind of needs it, but that's not hot. So, it's time to play coy. )

[positiveinfluence]

Just thinking?

[He tips his head to the side curiously as he slides off the stool to lean in closer.]

Or are you swinging towards acting on those thoughts?

[slavophile]

Very close to acting, but I wouldn't want to act on anything you wouldn't want me to act on. I am all about consent and - drinking - and ( he does seem to be sliding closer, too. lips close now. ) you have perfect skin.

[positiveinfluence]

Thanks.

[But after that he'll just lean in and seal the deal, one hand coming to rest on the back of William's neck to pull him in closer. He also needs this, something that feels good after a night that has felt like shit, but after a minute, he'll break the kiss and meet his eyes again.]

Good?

[slavophile]

Good.

( He'll cup his face and go in for a second kiss, bringing himself up from the stool all together. )

[positiveinfluence]

[Fantastic. And he's just going to stand there and keep kissing him until the bartender clears his throat awkwardly and Coop pulls back again.]

Want to get out of here?

[slavophile]

Yeah. I'm at the hotel on the corner.

( He pauses. )

If that's not too presumptuous.

[positiveinfluence]

[He shakes his head as he reaches back to grab his jacket.]

Works for me.

[slavophile]

It will.

( The bartender just watches them as they leave, moving back out the front door. William stays close, shoulder against Cooper's as he walks. If they both need this, then they should do this. )

[blackstarred]

[And they do do this. In fact, they have a grand old time where they justifiably are ignoring their phones.

After she finishes with Oliver, Mia does text her brother first. Something along the lines of:

You better call Dad. He has a lot of questions.

However, when William doesn't have a snarky retort for at least an hour, she starts to get concerned. She finds out his room number from Gloria and makes her way over to pound on the door.]

William? You in there?

[slavophile]

( And here, he liked Gloria.

Knocking is one thing, but pounding is different. They're done with their grand old time, but it's been such a long night, there was some cuddling but more sleeping. )

Mia?

( He moves out from under Cooper. William answers the door bleary-eyed, towel barely around him with the worst angle behind him, because, well, that's his bed and that's probably a half-awake Cooper under those covers. )

What?

[blackstarred]

[She raises an eyebrow, taking in his state of dress - or lack thereof - and raises an eyebrow.]

Dad wants you to call him. I'm sure he has a lot of questions about what you're up to.

[And she pushes up on her toes, trying to see over his shoulder to see what he's hiding. Coop definitely is waking up but he's not hugely moving yet.]

Did you pick someone up?

[slavophile]

I'm sure you you gave him a lot of questions about ( He tries to step around the door, and close it at the same time, but his towel is not tied tightly and he swoops down to catch it. ) what I'm up to. Mia.

[blackstarred]

[Yeah, while he's juggling the towel situation she's going to use that newfound Slayer grace to just duck under his arm and make her way inside. Thankfully Cooper's managing the cover situation just fine so there's nothing too indecent happening.]

Well.

[She crosses her arms in front of her chest as she stares Cooper down.]

Definitely not who I was expecting.

[Haven't you missed your little sister, William?]

[slavophile]

( Siblings, half, adopted, or otherwise, don't need to see each other naked, which is why she gives him the slip as the door shuts behind them both. Collecting himself, and tucking the towel back in, he turns, sighing.

He doesn't like what she's implying, like he has a reputation for turning around after being cheated on and playing the field. He does. He's his father's son that way. But, he's a world away and he can have this for himself, can't he? )

I don't want to know who you were expecting. ( Or, what. Or, if it was this. ) Cooper, you remember Mia.

[blackstarred]

["I do. Hi, Mia."]

Hi.

[She was referring to more he was probably on the bad guy's team, but then again, their genetics probably left him predisposed to hooking up with people who are not good for them.

See: their father and huntress. Also Laurel, even if Laurel is better than she was when she first came to Earth-1.]

I just wanted to make sure you weren't dead. You know, given the whole "I just pulled you out of a collapsed building" thing.

[slavophile]

( This is why they don't discuss Laurel. He is not dad, Mia. )

And then there was an, "I needed a drink" thing.

[blackstarred]

I remember. You also told me to tell you when I was done talking to Dad.

[And she is here to deliver.

Coop glances between the two of them, still drunk and a little amused. "Maybe I should go."]

[slavophile]

No.

( He does hold a hand up and it might come off a bit more forceful than he intends it, but this is his room and his business. He brings his arm down. )

I mean, I'd like you to stay, and, thank you, for telling me you talked to dad. How about we have lunch later. Put everything out on the table. ( Wait. ) Not him.