Episode 2: Hindsight is 20/20 [Audio/Action]

[tsunderebunny]

[The first time was forgiveable. Even after the incident in Sternbild over the Christmas of 1978 (which he had never gotten to experience before he was spirited away to the beach on the other side of the enclosure last spring), Barnaby was able to find it within himself to accept the small degree of good that came with the emotionally jarring effects of the invasion from last month. It was a lie, he knew, but for a few days there he felt like he had something normal.

That itself bothered him to no end. He couldn't accept it, but...

He had found a few friends for a change.

The most recent incident, however, was a repeated offense. It wasn't the result of the actions of any tertiary parties, like last month. No, this had to be the Management toying with them again, for whatever the reason that Barnaby didn't care to investigate. The few acquaintances he had made over the months had forgotten about him -- and Luceti -- entirely.

That was the true offense.

But, even through his anger, a part of him wondered if this was how Kotetsu felt on that blisteringly cold day last December (the one he had missed, remember?).

To forget. To be forgotten.

Barnaby would never allow that to happen again.]

[Late in the afternoon Barnaby tossed open the journal that he periodically ignored and, for once, decided to openly speak his mind.]

If everyone is done now, I'm heading out.

[With that he flipped the book shut. No, he won't be responding to any replies for a while.

Instead, he could be found in Good Spirits for the night. He had things he needed to think about and notes to reorganize. Perhaps a drink (or three) might help him settle down a little.

The odds of that were nil.]

Comments

[Action]

[windandrain]

[Well finding him isn't that difficult, given the ban and everything. This was a bit too personal for journals, and honestly she could use a drink herself. So, in the early evening before he'd had the chance to get thoroughly messed up, she meandered in and took a seat with him at whatever table he'd parked himself at with a big bottle of plum wine.]

I thought you were heading out.

[Action]

[tsunderebunny]

[He glanced up from the small notebook he was thumbing through and just gives Saori a distracted look in responce to her comment.]

This is out. You yourself said that the hot springs get crowded after things like this.

[Action]

[windandrain]

[Shaking her head, she sighs]

It's just the bar. Why not the beach, or a lake? Somewhere...away. But I don't guess that's the point.

[She slides her hand across the table towards him, trying to show him some sort of affection. After he'd explained things to her, she really was grateful. He'd been amazingly patient with Etsuko, and that spoke volumes to her.]

Are you alright, Barnaby?

[Action]

[tsunderebunny]

[He huffed, irritable all over again.]

It's hardly beach weather, and the lake is a little far out there.

[It also means camping. Without a bed. Or central air.

And critters. Ew. His hair would be ruined, and he didn't care for the idea of whacking his boots against a tree before he put them on in the morning.

Although the offer of affectionate support was welcome, all Barnaby could do at that point was set the book and pencil down wearily. He had been patient, but that had faded as the days wore on.]

I'm going to file a complaint with management. This is too far.

[action]

[paladinlost]

[Barnaby isn't the only one using drinks to make sense of it all, tonight. As it happens, Cecil is also at the bar, nursing a drink. Well, not quite nursing. He's mostly picking up his glass, setting it back down, spinning it slightly on the counter and restarting the process all over again, humming under his breath the whole time.

He's being quite careful not to spill a drop on the other patrons, but the sound of glass meeting wood over and over again might become annoying after a few minutes. If the humming doesn't reach that point first, of course.]

[action]

[tsunderebunny]

[Barnaby could ignore the repetitive clack and the smooth shuff as the man spun it as long as he had a drink and a distraction-- up to a point. It grated on his already wired nerves and slowly became an annoyance like the loud buzz of cicadas in the summer. After the umpteenth time of clack and whirr, Barnaby shot the man a witherng look.]

Could you stop that?

[action]

[paladinlost]

[Cecil startles badly when he's addressed, perhaps because he was not expecting anyone to speak to him. Or because he was not quite consciously aware he'd been playing with the glass in the first place.]

My apologies. I'd not realized I was bothering everyone else.

[He finally downs that drink instead playing with it, and promptly frowns with some disgust at his glass.]

...Or that I'd been doing so long enough for my drink to get so warm. I must apologize again.

[action]

[tsunderebunny]

Apologize to your drink. You shouldn't let it get warm.

[Snerk. He appreciates the apology though.]

I don't think anyone else cares. This place fills up after a Shift.

[ action ]

[magicmaestro]

[Barnaby will find he has a companion next to him at the Good Spirits for this evening at the bar stool. After this event, he's still not how to think of everything. He'll probably even be able to tell the man has a lot on his mind, hence why he's rather quiet instead of speaking up.]

[ action ]

[tsunderebunny]

[Unfortunately, Barnaby is even less talkative than the man beside him. He mulled over the drink before him and poured over his notes, although he was fully aware of the man sitting quietly beside him.

There was an odd comfort in the anonymity of being in a bar.

It's just a pity that he was a horrible conversationalist when he was off camera.]

[ action ]

[magicmaestro]

[After having his drink of wine at the bar, he turns towards Barnaby and speaks.]

Forgive my intrusion, but you seem troubled. Perhaps I may be able to lend an ear if you shall allow me?

[ action ]

[tsunderebunny]

[He looked up when he heard that he was being addressed and offered a weary look as he pushed the drink aside.]

No, there's no need. It's not important.

[It was. Just. Deflecting.]

[Action]

[ledbythewind]

[So a pretty blond walked into a bar... Oh wait.

Barnaby isn't the only one in need of a few drinks, that much is for certain. Richard had been doing well at not drowning his sorrows at the bar too often lately, but in his eyes that last experiment warranted a few drinks... which he couldn't have during said experiment, because he'd been 12.

All the more reason to make up for it now.

Barnaby is the only patron he recognizes tonight; when he spots the other blond, he heads straight over for the empty seat next to him and gives the man a faint smile.]

Mind if I sit down?

[Action]

[tsunderebunny]

[Pretty blond, say hi to fellow pretty blond. Barnaby looked up when he heard the familiar voice and set his cup down for the time being. His detailed notebook was quickly shut and pocketed as well. There was no reason to share those details.

He inclined his head and offered a faint smile himself.]

Of course. Go ahead. There's plenty of space.

[And this was a familiar face that he knew wouldn't annoy him or pry.]

[Action]

[ledbythewind]

[That's all the invitation Richard needs to sit down, flagging the bartender down to order himself a drink. Something strong, because boy does he ever need it.]

It's been a while since I was last here. I was starting to wonder whether the bartenders would even remember my name.

[A completely benign topic of conversation, absolutely nothing to do with the experiment.]

[Action]

[tsunderebunny]

[It was a very safe topic. Barnaby approved.]

I don't come here often either. Honestly, I prefer wine. Tonight's just not a good night for it.

[Video] Forever late

[sun_showers]

[She wonders what that was about. But...well...]

I hope you're okay...if you need some time alone, I understand. [She doesn't know the details, but that was sort of curt for making a broadcast over the network like that.]

[Audio]

[tsunderebunny]

[Barnaby doesn't respond immediately. He doesn't even respond until the next day, after he's unwillingly woken up by the sun. Hair mussed and still groggy from the lack of sleep, Barnaby needed to listen thrice before his tired, hazy mind made sense of it.

It was curt. But, his intention was also to make a point of everyone's childishness. It was annoying.]

It's fine. Don't worry about it.

[Deflecting~]

I thought you were trying not to die out in the woods. Come running back already?

[Audio]

[sun_showers]

If it was fine you wouldn't of said anything. [Her voice is soft, trying not to sound accusatory, and more concerned, really.]

I'm just checking up on things. I get a free moment every now and again, so I like to see what's going on. Nothing wrong with that, right?

[Action] If this isn't okay, lemme know. <3

[lostinmyway]

[Grune keeps very odd hours sometimes. It's the result of occasionally forgetting to go to bed for quite some time, often several nights in a row. And so, on his way back from Good Spirits, Barnaby is likely to run into Grune wandering about and occasionally tipping her head back to take a look at the stars. If he doesn't say hi first, then (once she notices him), she certainly will.]

[Action] It's fine!

[tsunderebunny]

[Barnaby stopped on his slow, wavering passage from Good Spirits to Community House 1 with the stumbling grace of a man who had too much to drink. He braced a hand on a tree when he saw movement and tilted his head as he slowly connected the woman to someone else in his memory (if it truly was his memory. how was anyone to know when the world spun around so quickly?)

He felt too hot in his leather jacket. Only his fussiness kept him from shedding it and slinging it over his shoulder.

The woman was...

Quite pretty.]

...

.......

Grune?

[What was being polite? The woman was quite pretty.]

[Action] Excellent. This is going to be such a trainwreck...!

[lostinmyway]

[At the sound of her name, Grune looks down from the stars to see who's talking. When she spots Barnaby (looking a little more rumpled than she's used to), she gives him a warm smile.]

Oh, hello, Barnaby! Isn't it such a lovely evening?

action;

[dedicatednoless]

[Neither the first nor the second and most recent event had been exactly kind to him, so after the evening had turned into night Peony ventured his way to Good Spirits, maybe even thinking he'd regain the bit he lost there. While he wasn't exactly depressed or anything, he wasn't beyond the good old fashion remedy of a drink or two.

After entering the building, he sought out a seat, which so happened to be by the bespectacled blondie. Hand on the free chair, he tilted it back and pulled it out before asking if he could have it.]

Care if I sit here?

action;

[tsunderebunny]

[The cups in the bar always did provide solace for many a frustrated and weary soul, even if the overlying details differed from person to person. Barnaby had abandoned his notes for the time being and was having another cold one after...he didn't remember how many he had that night.

He glanced up at the man when he heard the question, but it took a moment for the meaning to sink in. His only reply was a tired smile.]

It's not like it's taken.

[Words. He didn't mind the idea of company. Anonymous company in an anonymous bar where no one cared about his thoughts or his career or just how well he was actually doing was exactly what he was looking for.]

action;

[dedicatednoless]

Thanks!

[And with that, he sat down. The bartender was off serving another person and he would have to wait to order so his attention remained mostly on his new found company. Once comfortable, he turned directly to the man and his forgotten notes. The first thing to mind on what next to say was a cliche, however he couldn't resist the opportunity anyway.]

So, working hard or hardly working?