Russian roulette is not the same without a gun

[looneyloopy.livejournal.com]

*Electricity is a funny thing. It can do so much, and yet it's so very easy to disrupt. Such are the woes of the proprietors of Maurice's, an upscale café that tries to look more edgy than fancy, and fails. It can't quite shake the air of snobbery infecting the area, the taint of We-Have-Too-Much-Money. Maybe it's the silk ascots; maybe it's the disproportionate number of Italian shoes. At any rate, no one thinks to notice the young man slipping out of the alley next to the building, in his new wingtips and old waistcoat, his button-down a bit rumpled and his trousers mended here and there. By the time anyone notices the breaker box on the back wall sparking and smoking, he's vanished into the crowds.

He takes the long way 'round back through some side-streets, timing it so that he walks up to Maurice's - again - about five minutes after he's agreed to meet Amrita there. Perfectly late, perfectly nonchalant, as he strolls up to the café, pretending to be unaware of the frustrated owners and the 'closed for maintenance' sign now hanging on the door.*

Comments

[dapperdeath.livejournal.com]

Do let me know if you reconsider. Your talents are wasted on--what is it you do again?

*Evan leans in, lowering his voice.*

You do understand that it wasn't me, don't you? I assisted, certainly, I made it possible, but the work itself--ah, here she comes now.

*Amrita is approaching and Evan stands to pull out her chair.*

[looneyloopy.livejournal.com]

*Remus stands as well, though he's still looking at Evan with something dark and sharp in his expression for that dig about his unemployment.*

[cellarandmoon.livejournal.com]

*A few heads turn as Amrita, smiling and perfectly powdered, crosses the restaurant to their table and slips gracefully into her seat. She points the smile at each of them in turn, but there's a little polite crease in her brow at Remus' expression.*

[looneyloopy.livejournal.com]

*But his frown's gone darker, now, as Evan's comment loops in his head. Here she comes now. As though they'd been talking about Amrita.

When the pieces click into place, even the vegetarian dishes on the table are enough to turn his stomach, and his smile is decidedly faint as he turns to smooth over Amirta's unvoiced concern.*

You two are lucky to have found one another. Evan speaks so highly of you, Amrita, I'm almost embarrassed.