Don't Be Dull

“However, since you aren’t on my list of targets, I will give you the real answer. I am a perfectly sane person. I known murdering is evil, and I feel guilty as anyone would. I’m sure you want to ask why I still kill despite that. Well, let’s see do you like birds? ‘Cos I do. The full freedom of flight, not being bound by gravity. It’s what I always wanted.” - Nikolai Gogol from Bungo Stray Dogs

[neverboringbastian]

🎶Do they have a type?

[detectivegoldstein]

Those.....were solid questions. Ones James didn't particularly want to answer, but. He grabbed the beer and downed at least half of it in one go. Setting it back on the table he sighed. "Because it's a reminder that I mean nothin'. Happy now?"

[neverboringbastian]

Bastián watched him throw the beer back, the same blank expression never leaving his face even if on the inside James had said what he wanted to hear. "Ecstatic," he deadpanned before taking another slow sip. Setting the empty bottle on the table he pushed himself up to sitting position. "Least you're self-aware, consider yourself lucky. That's more than most people can say." Tossing a couple ration cards on the table he fully stood and stretched, "Well this was informative. You are entertaining I'll give you that, enjoy another round on me."

[neverboringbastian]

The only time he gets jealous is when Penny wants him to be, usually she'll try to get a rise out of him. Really it just an excuse for her to see him remind everyone why he's her #1. Actual jealousy? He'd have to feel insecure about his spot and that's never happening.

[neverboringbastian]

🛏What is their favorite bedroom activity to do with their partner? (Bastian)

[detectivegoldstein]

He sighed, shaking his head. "So what? You want me to say I'm sorry? Penny did get between friends, though I get that wasn' her intention. What do you want from me? I ain't mad at her an' this whole thing's not even really about her. Thanks for the drink, but you can take it." James had zero intentions of answer Bastián's questions. He did not owe the other man an explanation.

[neverboringbastian]

Bastián scoffed, "If I wanted you to say sorry I have better ways of going about it," he said simply. Shrugging he took another sip of his beer shifting a bit in the booth. He hummed in thought leaning his head back, "Mmm, agree to disagree on that one then." Glancing at him he shrugged, "Just find it all interesting I suppose. You act like they took something from you, her feelings towards you didn't change just because she slept with them. It didn't change your relationship, so what's really the issue with her giving them some attention?"

[callofthxvoid]

Penny draped her arms over his shoulders, crossing her wrists behind his neck as she kissed him back, a smile playing on her face when he pulled back to look at her. "I am not opposed to leaving," she quipped back, moving her hand to smooth out some his curls near his forehead. "He seemed disappointed, but he said that he likes me enough that he's willing to take whatever I give him, and that he always figured you came first and foremost. Which, frankly, he should have known." She smiled. "I don't make that a secret. There's no competition. There's only you, and then everyone else."

[neverboringbastian]

"We can get some mulled wine to go then," Bastián said chuckling softly as he dropped his hand from her face to join his other around her waist. When he'd told Edgar the rest of the world was background noise until he was back with her, he'd meant it. Hearing his own thoughts on their relationships reconfirmed from her, had him grinning. "It's strange why he's so upset over his friends then, not like they took anything from him," he said shrugging. Thinking it over before shaking his head, "He likes you enough," he repeated, "Key difference between us, he's willing to settle for minimal attention. I never will be."

[detectivegoldstein]

He looked up in surprise before brows furrowed. Bastian was the last person James ever expected to talk to. At the questions he only scowled. "All due respect dude, it's none of yer fuckin' business. This is between me an' my so called friends."

[neverboringbastian]

Bastián clicked his tongue, taking another slow sip of his drink, glancing around at the bar. They were both there a bit too early to have any sort of crowd listening in. "Do you know what some of these notes say? Two rangers hollering for all to hear in the main office. One of em hollering at another at a town event. Over a woman? Hell of a story." Turning to look at James now he raised a brow, " Now see, that's where we disagree. Small town, reputations tend to matter more, you know? Giving my girl the reputation of coming between friends is my business."

Running his thumb over the neck of his beer bottle, he moved to point it at James. "See how that works? So I'm going to ask you again, what got you so bent out of shape about this?"

[callofthxvoid]

Penny smiled at him, soft and genuine and affectionate, dropping her gaze in a way that made her look more blushing and bashful than she ever had or ever would with anyone else. "Hmm, I'm not sure about that one anymore, actually," she mused, leaning into his touch. "He found out about my little dalliances with his friends and came to talk to me about it. We resolved it, but then he decided to be honest with me about his feelings. So I told him the truth." She looked at Bastián. "I told him that there never has been and never will be anyone else like you. That I will never have a place for someone else because no one even comes close to being what you are to me. You are singular."

[neverboringbastian]

Bastián was smiling at her, his gaze soft the way it only ever had been with her and no one else. Turning to fully face her, he wrapped his arm around her waist and brought one hand to cup her cheek. Leaning forward he kissed her before pulling back just enough to keep speaking, "You are making it increasingly difficult to humor this town event and actually stay out here." He brushed his thumb along her jaw moving back to be able to meet her gaze, "Did he have a response?"

[neverboringbastian]

WHERE: The Sasquatch WHO: James (@detectivegoldstein)

Bastián set a beer down in front of James before sliding in across from him at the booth he was at. Turning so he was sitting with his legs outstretched he took a slow sip of his own. "So you would you like to tell me why I have a handful of tips to the gossip column about you fighting other guys over Penny?" he asked giving him an amused smile, "I understand of course, but consider me curious as to what has you so bent out of shape over this."

[callofthxvoid]

"I don't understand anyone who declines you," Penny replied with a playful smirk. "I would say that I'm sorry he's missing out, but I'm not, because that means more for me. And you are very charming." She closed her eyes when he kissed her, enjoying the intimacy of it and equally forgetting what they had been talking about, until he brought it back up. "Dodger?" she questioned, tilting her head to the side. "I vaguely recall a man by that name, but I didn't bother to retain any information about him past the point you stopped being involved with him. Are you telling me he punched you now for something you said back in the summer? Seems like a bit of a delayed reaction." She shrugged. "I'm surprised, because you're not usually drawn to people that slow."

[neverboringbastian]

"Well thankfully there's only one rejection that would actually have me setting the world on fire," he said pressing his lips lightly to her cheek. Chuckling he pulled her closer to his side, "More for you? You have claim over all of me, darling." Shrugging he nodded, "Mm, nice face and not bad in the bedroom, even if I was doing most of the work. There was no work involved taking him home, balanced out." Giving her another quick kiss he smiled, "Are your toys still holding up ok? I saw one hobbling about, seems he forgot his cane. Shame if he breaks so soon on you."

[callofthxvoid]

Penny was still concerned, but the way he worded what happened did make her frown shift into an amused smirk. "Ah," she replied, letting her hand fall to rest against his chest before leaning in to gently brush her lips against his cheek. "Who was it this time? I can't think of anyone you might have inadvertently made insecure recently. Other than Nathan's... Whatever he is. But he doesn't seem the punching type."

[neverboringbastian]

"Nathan's..." he trailed off waiting to see how'd she put it before chuckling, "No he's not. I did make the offer to him as well as to have some fun. Declined both, though did call me charming." Turning his head to catch her lips with his, kissing her slowly before remembering she'd asked him a question. "Do you recall Dodger? Had him for about a year on and off? I answered his questions back in the Summer, seems I caused more than a few doubts to creep up about his relationship."

[callofthxvoid]

WHERE: The Lake WHO: Bastián Corazón ( @neverboringbastian )

"L'amour de ma vie," Penny greeted with a warm, genuinely affectionate smile, coming up behind Bastián and wrapping her arms around him. Leaning forward, she pressed a soft kiss to his cheek before tugging at his coat to turn him toward her—her face visibly falling as she reached up and gently stroked his cheek. "Baby, what happened here?"

[neverboringbastian]

Bastián had been standing with his hands stuffed in his pockets, at one point watching Sam dash around and half expecting him to trip in the snow. Feeling a pair of arm he smiled letting her turn him, not even wincing when she kissed his bruised cheek. Wrapping an arm around her waist he pulled her to his side, leaning his face into her touch. "Hmm?" the small noise slipping out as he looked at her, "Oh that? I was hit with insecurity, never experienced it before, I wouldn't recommend it. Then again I know it could never touch you."

[oxtofmydcpth]

Each time Bastián stopped, Dodger opened his mouth to argue a counter-point, but was cut off before a word could form, shuffling uncomfortably on the spot, lips pursed tightly over clenched teeth. "Okay...sure I...yes...okay..." maybe he did need to look in the mirror, really look.

The clap made him jump, and he took his own step back. "Don't call him birdman," always defensive of his man even during conversations like this, when he was on the backfoot, "but yeah...I-I'm done. I said what I came to say," and he felt somewhat lighter for saying it, even if it hadn't been as intended, "so that's...that. Unless you got any more pearls of wisdom, I'm meeting my man and my kid."

[neverboringbastian]

If there was one thing he was good at, it was using his words. Rolling his eyes he took out another cigarette to light, "The captain then," he said as he took a slow drag. "You know what, I do actually," he said slowly letting the smoke out, the gray trails floating off into the sky. Taking a step closer to Dodger he looked at him, before grinning, "Insecurity and jealousy are going to be least of your worries, all that talk of having your man run for mayor? Maybe go to the gym if you think a punch like that's going to be enough for the next one," moving back he took another drag letting the smoke slip out. "Lot of shakeups in leadership lately, lot of desperate people for power. Just something to keep in mind, might even make the paper. Enjoy your family day," he said casually stuffing his hands in his pockets and starting to head off.

[oxtofmydcpth]

"You can fuck someone for a year and still be friends," suddenly Dodger wasn't sure why he'd even instigated this, once again unsure of his place in all this, but with Bastián now instead of Phoenix, and why Bastián's approval was so important to him he couldn't put his finger on it. "This isn't about insecurities, it's about consequences to the things you do and say. Jay almost died because of you," a pause, a slight rewording needed, "because of the shit you said, I wasn't there for either of them when they needed me, spending my time trying come to terms with what you'd said while my daughter is out there with half a fucking building on top of her."

Was that it? Was that all he'd wanted to say? Had he wanted Bastián to give him a scapegoat for not being there for his family. "Yeah well that's your thing isn't it. You don't think about people. You get yourself your new toy, you play with it, you break it and you move on. And maybe that's my fault, for letting you, for letting those insecurities drive me to you, I don't know." At the mention of Edgar, Dodger simply chuckled. "I've already spoken with him. Funny really. Talking with him is what prompted me to come to you. I got nothing to be jealous of anymore."

[neverboringbastian]

"Let me hear that again, from you. You weren't there, and you weren't with me during that quake. Want to know where I was?" he asked before continuing not waiting for a response, "I was with my priority. I never doubt where I need to be, if one side comment is enough to make you unravel maybe you should look in a mirror. Ask that man why he thought someone else's words mattered more."

He shook his head again taking a step back, a blank expression on his face as he studied Dodger again. Bringing his hands up he clapped them together. "Look at that, two of the most insecure men I've ever had the misfortune of dealing with helping each with their jealousy. Glad his words were enough to sooth you, strange that it took this long given I assume your birdman has said similar things." Dropping his hands he said, "Are you done? Or is there more you'd like to claim I've caused, because apparently I've had such an impact on your life."

[oxtofmydcpth]

“You stand for yourself, like you always have.” Honestly, Dodger wasn’t sure what he was going to say right now, opting for the words to come to him naturally, angrily, and deal with them as they came. Bastián stepped closer, and Dodger stood firm, held his ground even though his nerves took over, swallowing hard. “You’re so quick to put doubt in peoples minds, people you’re supposed to care about…let the things you say eat them up from the inside while you carry on wilfully ignorant to what you’re doing.” Now he took a step forwards, squaring up to the other. “Or maybe you’re not ignorant, and you’re just a sick fuck.”

[neverboringbastian]

"People I'm suppose to care about? You referring to yourself with this one?" Bastián questioned, chuckling as he shook his head. Thinking back to the last time he spoke to the man he turned his head as he studied him. "We fucked for a year, hardly a friendship there. If you assumed otherwise that's on you. I've never made it unclear who my priority is." Staring at him he said, "Why everyone seems so hellbent to connect their own insecurities to me, I'll never understand. But it's easier isn't it? Coming here, punching me? Blaming me. Way easier than having to acknowledge you might not measure up, that maybe you've done something wrong, right?"

Shaking his head again he shrugged, "Call me whatever helps you sleep. The fact of the matter is, I haven't thought of you at all in the last few months. I warned you insecurity and jealousy was a dangerous combo. But if you're still struggling with insecurity and jealousy, you'll have to speak to Nathan's new man about it. Afraid I can't keep him distracted for you anymore, if that's still something you're so concerned over."

[oxtofmydcpth]

Of course he was going to stand there with that disgusting smug look on his face, a look Dodger once upon a time would have been putty in his hands over. Now not so much, Bastián was playing ignorant or indifferent, Dodger couldn’t really tell, but he answered Bastián’s question in a way that he hadn’t expected to: a swing of his fist right at his jaw. “Fuck you Bastián, and everything you fucking stand for.” He took a step back.

[neverboringbastian]

When the punch lands, Bastián's head moved to the side, glancing at the snow where smoke was now rising from his extinguished cigarette. He could vaguely hear surprised mumbles from one of the stalls nearby. Staring down he slowly turned back to look at Dodger, a hand rubbing at his jaw. "Enlighten me then, what is it you think I stand for?" he asked moving to take a step closer to him, "Last I checked I haven't spoken to you in months, so I'd love to know what had you thinking about me for so long that you come running like a little boy on the playground."

[oxtofmydcpth]

“Oi, you!” There was no politeness in Dodger’s tone, and at the speed in which he was heading towards Bastián, most people would have mistaken him for someone else. Dodger never moved that fast, even with intent, the only exception being after the quake to find Phoenix and Jay, which was precisely the catalyst for this long overdue conversation. “You really get off on fucking people over, don’t you.”

@neverboringbastian

[neverboringbastian]

Bastián had been having a smoke a little away from the booths, he knew Penny was off likely with one of her latest toys. Debating whether he should prebuy her a drink or not when he heard someone yelling. Watching Dodger race up to him, he raised a brow, having thought the man's max speed was 5 miles per hour. Blowing out a puff of smoke he said, "Fucking them? Yes. Fucking them over? Debatable. Something I can help you with then?"