Less Fangy

Alois Steinhelm | Graphic Artist | Bored

[shiftingstars]

--> GET DRUNK or at least try to after food

[shiftingstars]

Louis, for her part, looks interested in Mr. Spo- uh- Anatole’s analysis of the situation.

She smiles, remembering something. “I actually did keep it, by that I mean he didn’t seem to want it back, so it’s currently sitting in my desk at work.” She pauses and considers another thing. “He did say he was a gun enthusiast after, but he didn’t seem too interested in it, so I’m not even sure if the bullet’s worth all that much. Then again, I don’t think money was an issue for him or the person who shot him. I probably shouldn’t say any more than that, confidentiality reasons.”

Casually, Louis attempts to drive the conversation more towards Destan and Anatole.

“I imagine working as an estate agent and stockbroker is less gruesome?” She questioningly intones all the while being entirely unaware of what they actually did. 

[scuttlinginanotherlife]

The siblings share a glance before Anatole sighs. “Well, at least you have a memorable keepsake if anything. And an emergency money source.”

A gun enthusiast huh? Highly unlikely. It was probably some gang activity or a robbery gone wrong or something. Anatole hardly thought that anyone could be taken by the excuse of ‘gun enthusiast’ but apparently the woman had and it was kind of dissapointing.

Being gullible like that. Really.

"Less gruesome?" Destan parrots. "Heck no. I’ve seen some shit lemme tell ya. Try t’ sell a place where someone’s died r’ ex-meth lab place r’ even the shit you see on routine property inspections. Th’ only diff’rence ‘s that no-one gives a shit what happens to property managers since we’re all fuckin’ sharks."

"And I wasn’t always in stocks. I used to bartend before that." Anatole adds. "So I can understand your distate for… underage binge drinkers."

[lessfangy]

Alois glances up from his doodling, having been paying attention he didn't look so much confused as pensive. It was like being on the edge of an epiphany, but not quite. 

"Stocks sounds pretty gruesome." He comments while scribbling about all over the napkins. "Well, depending on your definition." Considering the economic climate and stuff, or something. 

[shiftingstars]

--> GET DRUNK or at least try to after food

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"I don’t know, he was really vague about the whole thing and since he wasn’t pressing charges against anyone there wasn’t really much left to do after fixing him up." Well, unless you count going to dinner with him after, but Louis tactfully leaves that part out of her already bizarre story. 

She pokes at her food, taking bits here and there. 

"Is silver even a decent metal for bullets? It kind of seems like a waste, then again I’m not an expert in that sort of thing." She smiles. "It does seem silly though, I guess some people watch too much TV." 

Never mind that Louis frequently left Supernatural on for her cats, in most universes. 

[scuttlinginanotherlife]

"Huh." Destan replies, looking a little dissapointed it weren’t anythin’ more tha that. "Either a rich guy with somethin’ t’ lose r’ someone easily recognisable, huh? If he weren’t pressin’ charges, the guy probably hd somethin’ t’ hide yaknow." He nods, nudging his brother.  ”Ain’t that right?”

"It is a distinct possibility. But I really don’t care to dig.” Anatole sighs, earning a anoyyed groan from the man beside him. “I’m sorry if I’m boring, Brother.”

"But no." He continues. "Silver is definitely not an ideal metal at all. unless you bastardise it so much that it were capable of actually being fired and causing more damage than a regular bullet, I have no idea why you’d even think to waste the time and resources on such a frivolous item. So it could be assumed that whoever made the thing either had alot of silver laying around, beleived in the supernatural, or is quite well off."

"Yeh. shame if y’ didn’t keep th’ bullet Doc. Probably worth a bit, huh?"

[lessfangy]

.     _.

Well, it did look as if someone was quite familiar with firearms and the like.

Alois resumes his food consumption while contemplating the meaning of life and his own existence, mortality, etc. In other words Alois seems to be doodling on a napkin again, he’s not sure why, but orange cats seem to be the first thing to come to mind. Did it have something to do with possible latent psychic abilities and borderline connection to his other selves across the multiverse? Maybe, but probably not. Who doesn’t like gingery cats? 

[shiftingstars]

--> GET DRUNK or at least try to after food

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"Well, we’re kind of short on staff in the ER ((A&D/ED)) at the moment, which is fine on slow nights, but…" She shrugs again. "When it’s busy at night with emergencies we can’t exactly send the more serious stuff off to someone else right away." 

"Drunken teens are the least interesting cases, but we do get a few strange cases." She has a few committed to memory, though she has enough sense to omit patient’s personal information. "There was a guy a few months ago who managed to end up with a silver bullet stuck in him and insisted I get it out. We’re not really supposed to take bullets out, but he was really adamant." Along with the deets about Diet she also omits the fact that he seemed perfectly fine after. 

[scuttlinginanotherlife]

"Seems like we always got a lack f’ medical dudes huh?" Destan sighs in agreement. "Man, ain’t nothin’ changed. Even when we were kids out local place didn’t have much, n’ ‘f y’ wanted anythin’ more n’ that y’ had t’ go to th’ city n’ fork out a fucktona money."

"I suppose not alot of people who start with it stick with it." Anatole suggests. "It is quite hard and you do work long hours with little leave."

"I guess… But yaknow."

At the mention of the silver bullet, Destan’s smirk turns into comfusion and Anatole’s passive turns to interest.

"Silver?" Destan repeats. "What the hell kinda idiot be makin’ bullets outta silver? Someone readin’ too much fantasy junk huh?"

[lessfangy]

Alois looks up, interested in the story Louis was relaying to the other two. He hadn't heard this one before, though he does recall a humorous account of some guy coming into the ER after getting his junk stuck in a camping stove. Anyway, the silver bullet thing sounded interesting. 

[shiftingstars]

--> GET DRUNK or at least try to after food

[shiftingstars]

Louis nods, she had wondered what the two were doing out so late the other day, but if their schedules weren’t fixed then ‘late’ was a relative term. 

"I usually work nights and I try to make spare time when I can." Which wasn’t easy, but that much was obvious. "Whether it’s busy or not depends, some nights it’s just drunken teenagers with too much alcohol in them and other nights its more serious." 

When food does come around Louis glances up and smiles, because she actually was hungry in spite of her ordering something small and simple. 

[scuttlinginanotherlife]

"Yeh, I guess as an intern y’ ain’t upt’ lethal stabbin’s r’ cancer patients yet, huh?" Destan comments, digging into his food.

"Still, I can’t imagine dealing constantly with drunken teens would be interesting." Anatole adds, leaving his food for the moment in favor of his drink. "But I’ll bet you have some stories of the more eventful nights, hm?"

[lessfangy]

Alois was currently eating. He did find that the food was better than expected, though he doubts Louis would agree on the bloody, meaty stuff on his plate. Not all all bothered by talks of medical things he munches on. 

[shiftingstars]

--> GET DRUNK or at least try to after food

[shiftingstars]

Louis practically beams at the question posed to her. 

"Doctor, but intern level, so…" She shrugs while still smiling, glad to have a degree and to be in the residency program she wanted. "I’m not experienced." Or that old. "So what do you two do?"

[scuttlinginanotherlife]

"Dang, you must not have alotta time spare huh?" Destan says, looking impressed. "Dunno if I’d have th’ patience t’ go on little sleep n’ lots work. Still, at least y’ know y’ makin’ a difference and th’ paycheck ain’t bad at all huh?"

"Well, an intern or not it’s still a start right? And as long as you like what you are doing." Anatole adds.

The next question is expected, and the practised lies roll off their tounges with ease.

“‘M an estate agent.” Destan beams.

"I’m a Stockbroker." Anatole finishes. "Not really alot of fixed office hours for us, so we’re pretty much on our own schedules."

But whatever else they might have said is cut off by the waitress coming back over, placing down their meals in front of them.

Funnily enough, the brothers have ordered almost identical plates of food; but it seems Destan has opted for something more alcoholic for his beverage.

[lessfangy]

Alois continues listening, having mostly faded into the background. He quirks a brow at the listed professions. To be completely honest he's still convinced Anatole was a Dexter Morgan-ish kind of guy, but voicing that thought was probably rude. Speaking of things he does wonder what an estate agent did. 

Oh, food. Alois actually looked happy, or something. 

[shiftingstars]

--> GET DRUNK or at least try to after food

[shiftingstars]

"At least you didn’t get alcohol poisoning." Louis adds, because occasionally people came in after hours to get their stomach pumped. "Speaking of, a group was brought in to the hospital earlier…well, only one of them was dangerously over the limit…" In that moment it occurs to her that she never mentioned working in a hospital, oh well. 

When ordering Louis would look from the menu to the waitress then back again. She ends up ordering a salad, wondering if that was a good idea or not. 

[scuttlinginanotherlife]

"Livers like steel but tolerance of a kid us." Destan shrugs as the waitress totters away, grin still on her face. "Dunno how that happened, but hey; at least we can’t really drink much b’fore we’re fuckin’ wrecked."

"Keeps the bill low if anything." Anatole adds dryly, drumming his fingers on the table. "So you work in a hospital then?" He asks politely, nodding at Louis. "A doctor? Or nurse?"

[lessfangy]

Alois looks on, unsure if he was impressed or unimpressed. He continues on with not saying much, but he does actively listen to what's going on around him. He does smile at the first suggestion of doctor then nurse, rather than automatically assuming Louis was a nurse. 

[shiftingstars]

--> GET DRUNK or at least try to after food

[shiftingstars]

Like her brother Louis had been skeptical about the exterior, but was delighted to find that the place was much nicer looking on the inside. Anyway, so far everything seemed fine, no one had ended up in the hospital yet. 

After sliding into the booth Louis would flip through the menu, hoping to find something lacking in meat. She’d skim through for a while and eventually decides salads weren’t that bad. While skimming and making difficult decisions she would be oblivious to Alois’ antics. 

Having made a decision she’d set the plastic encased menu to the side. 

"So, do you come here often?" She asks in an open ended manner. 

[scuttlinginanotherlife]

"Oh yeh." Destan replies. "Come here all th’ time. Ain’t been here too recently though ‘cos someone got real drunk and did some shit he really regretted in th’ mornin’.”

There’s a suffering sigh from his brother beside him and the fellow is probably looking a little embaressed. “Yes, well, might I remind you that it was you that decided to try to outdrink the waitress for a credited drink tab? It’s certainly not my fault you overestimated your abilities and decided to substitute me in as well.”

"We almost made it." Destan laments. "So close but man if these girls can’t drunk."

A waitress comes over and flashes a smile of recognition and amusement as she takes their orders, turning to the other two expectantly, paper and pen at the ready.

[lessfangy]

.   _. 

In spite of Alois' blank expression he did find the thought of the two attempting to out drink one of the waitresses funny, but then he wasn't sure whether that was something to laugh about, so he doesn't. Really though, he hadn't actually said very much the entire night. 

As the waitress arrives, the same one they mentioned judging by the recognition going on, Alois realizes he wasn't completely sure what he wanted. He ends up ordering whatever happened to be on the first page. Unsure about what exactly he just ordered he looks over at his sister. 

[shiftingstars]

--> GET DRUNK or at least try to after food

[shiftingstars]

Louis seems content with how everything was going, but at the mention of food her smile wavers just a bit. Knowing that food was only available in a few places was bad. Even worse was knowing that decent food was rarer, because she doubted the menu would really work that well for her. 

"I…didn’t, because of time reasons." She adds to Alois’ statement.

[scuttlinginanotherlife]

Destan’s grin grew even wider. “Elm’s it is then.” he says cheerfully, turning around and heading towards he exit. “And nah, we haven’t either. Jus’ thought I’d ask n’ put th’ option out there, yaknow?”

Elms was a small hole in the wall pub from outward appearences. The windows were foggy, and the vines out front were overgrown and twisted up along the face of the building. If anything, you would possibly have called Elm’s ‘rustic and charming’.

Possibly.

Either way, the inside was unexpectedly better than the outside. A large, sprawling bar, few booths and tables and even a dancefloor and stage. But for this early in the evening, there weren’t many save for those looking for food or a starting point for their pub crawls. Even the performers were lazing about. No point doing anything for this small of a crowd.

The Brothers take a booth at the back; menus already placed down optomistically on the table.

"Don’t worry, this place ‘s great. Cheap too." Destan smiles, not bothering to flick open his menu.

[lessfangy]

.   _. 

To be honest, Alois was really concerned about how wide one could grin before their face split in half. 

As they approached the place Alois was skeptical about whether it was the sort of place people would go to eat. Well, the sort of place sane people would go to eat. The exterior gets a deeper frown than usual, but Alois doesn't comment on it right away. The inside looks substantially better and he was glad he wouldn't end up with a stomach full of parasites or something. 

Once in the back Alois slips into the seat beside his sister, opposite the other two. He doesn't say anything, choosing to look pensively at the menu. The phrase 'you get what you pay for' echoed in the back of his head as he scanned it. 

The real question Alois had, when glancing up from the menu, was did Mr. Smiles ever not smile? 

[shiftingstars]

--> GET DRUNK or at least try to after food

[shiftingstars]

Louis might have gone for the classier end of casual, but she didn’t look too overdressed for the present setting. Anyway, she looked as nice as someone could without going overboard of running home to change. Thankfully, work lockers were a thing. 

At the sight of the other two Louis would smile and give a small wave while approaching. She did note that one of the two seemed less than enthused about something, but she chose not to comment on it as her and Alois got within earshot of them. 

[scuttlinginanotherlife]

At the sight of a pair of familiar faces stepping off the train, Destan grinned and Anatole attempted to make himself look less put out as they made their way over.

"Hey." Destan grinned, hands in his pockets and looking as relaxed as ever. "Nice t’ see you two again. ‘Specially you guy, don’t even remember if y’ got home a’right, yaknow?" He added, nodding at Alois.

"Either way, have you two eatne yet?" Anatole continues, glancing at his watch. "There are a few pubs around here that actually serve food, and less than that who actually serve decent food.”

[lessfangy]

.    _. 

"Uh...yeah." Alois really wasn't sure how to respond to that, but then he wasn't serial killed so that was a plus. 

At the food question Alois shrugged then shook his head. 

"I don't think either of us really had much time to eat." That being said he didn't feel it wasn't necessary to stop and eat if it was just him, but he wasn't sure about Louis or the other two. "Have either of you eaten?" 

[shiftingstars]

--> GET DRUNK or at least try to

[shiftingstars]

[The Next Night]

With Alois’ confirmation of times and dates Louis goes ahead with attempting to text Destan. She was flopped over her couch, a cat in her lap, as she tried to think of a decent greeting and such. Hi? Hey? Hello? Salutations? The last two sounded too formal and the second sounded too suggestive, ‘hi’ it was then.

Hi, Destan, it’s Louis. Would Friday night work for you and Anatole? - Louis. 

She’d written it several times before being content with its casualness. Certain that it sounded okay she went ahead and hit send. 

[scuttlinginanotherlife]

He knows he said no hurry or anything, but the text does surprise him. It’s not even a week, but hell, he ain’t complaining. He texts back affirmative, along with a station that the two groups could probably get to with no trouble. There wera couple of great places around there anyway, so it wasn’t an issue at all after that.

Friday comes, and it doesn’t hold much for them except a small job in the morning; but he regretfully forgets to let his brother know until late that afternoon.

And by late, he means maybe an hour before they’re supposed to meet up.

So after alot of yelling and rushing and a near miss with a razor, the brothers are lingering about the meeting point dressed rather casually; one of them looking a little abashed and the other slightly irritable.

[lessfangy]

Friday night arrived, as expected, and Alois made a point of heading home for a short nap before heading over to the hospital. He hadn't really bothered with getting ready, aside from changing into more casual clothing. He knew that he was just meeting Louis at the hospital and from there they'd continue on to where they were meeting the other set of siblings. 

He meets up with Louis outside the hospital without much incident. Shortly after that the two of them head to the place of meeting. Alois looks blankly at the pair and wonders what may or may not have lead up to this point in time for them.

[shiftingstars]

More Late Night Things

[shiftingstars]

With a few ticks and tacks Louis enters the numbers into her phone and saves the contacts. At the time she decided to use Anatole’s only in the event that getting into contact with Destan wasn’t working, or something. 

"Okay, I’ll keep that in mind." She kind of hopes their ideas of ‘nice’ were the same. "I’ll probably call or text within a day or so, depending on whether my brother’s phone is working."

The train goes along and eventually arrives at Louis’ stop. The area was nice, mostly residential with a few shops and such dotting the landscape. 

"Well, this is my stop, I guess I’ll talk to you later." With that she departs, weaving around though the small crowd of densely packed people in the front to the door. 

[Louis Exit]

[scuttlinginanotherlife]

"Sure thing." He grins. "No rush r’ nothin’ a’right?"

Because really, the two of them would probably go out drinking anyway, outside company or not. But as the train grinds to a halt and she makes her leave, the two (funnily enough) raise their hands in farewell at the same time.

"Later."

"Bye."

And of course looking a little embaressed when they realised how in sync they were.

[Merus Brothers End]

[lessfangy]

Alois was perfectly content with the routine his life had taken. He did expect calls, meetings and lunches with Louis, but he hadn’t really expected certain things to come up in conversations. To be more specific he didn’t expect a pair of brothers to be brought up in a conversation with Louis, but then life was just weird. 

Alois? Are you busy this week? - Louis.  Not really, y? - Alois.  [Insert long, boring text filled with concerned Louis and evasive Alois.] So Friday night’s good? I get off my shift early then. - Louis.  Sure Ill meet u at the hospital. ttyl - Alois Okay, bye. - Louis.

To be honest, Alois wasn’t sure what to make of all this, but Louis did like socializing and doing stuff… That and Alois was kind of suspicious, in a general sense. 

[lessfangy]

If you could change one thing about your childhood, what would it be?

"I don't know, maybe I wouldn't have wandered off that one time if I could change anything." He gives a half-hearted shrug, uncertain if that would have made much of a difference. "I'm not even sure if things are changeable like that or if I'd end up in The Butterfly Effect 3, or whatever." 

[lessfangy]

What were/are your parents like? If they were absent was there someone else you had as a guardian/role model?

"Both of them were rarely around when Louis and I got into our teens. Obviously, we weren't left unsupervised when we were young and mom made an attempt at being around more during day in the summer. She wasn't exactly the most nurturing person, but at least we didn't burn down the building or starve." 

[lessfangy]

What’s your worst childhood memory?

"That vacation in London we took, specifically... Well, actually, never mind. I try to forget, I was told it would be better if I could, but then that wasn't all that effective." 

[lessfangy]

Who were you closest to when growing up?

"My sister, obviously." There may or may not be issues with codependency here. "We didn't go out much when we were younger, especially after that week in London. Our parents just didn't think it was all that safe I guess."

[lessfangy]

What’s your fondest childhood memory?

"When my sister taught me how to read. Mom couldn’t be bothered to repeat herself more than once and I hated waiting for school to start to learn. …I guess Louis always was the smarter of the two of us, because she picked up on it all the first time around." 

[lessfangy]

What's your earliest childhood memory?

"I think my earliest memory is a jumble of ordinary things, learning to read, spending most of the day with my sister, scribbling in notebooks... That's about it, but none of those memories are very clear though."