Typically Sunday is thought to be a day of rest but let's face it, for an unemployed slug like Richard, most days are kind of like Sunday's. Usually he sleeps in until noon and then drags his ass out of bed long enough to make coffee and turn on the TV or his computer. But today he is rudely woken up at 8:30am by his alarm so that he can meet Max at the gym for 9am.
He's still half asleep and as he looks around the gym for his friend he resembles a mole rat, one who has popped up from a long slumber underground only to look bleary eyed up at the sun.
"Jesus. Are all these people on speed?" He muses out loud as he looks at all the gym-goers who are already working out on the floor. It's the only thing that makes sense right? Who naturally has this much energy?
If he's being honest, Max was half expecting Richard to try and bail out - but he receives no such text or call, and thus, here he is, arriving on the main gym floor just a minute or so after him. He gives a few of the other men and women there a nod or a greeting, but soon he's clapping Richard on the shoulder.
"Y'alright, sunshine? Glad you made it."
It's clear the poor guy's still half asleep, but Max doesn't have torture planned for him; he'll go easy on him. He wants him to come back, after all.
The thought of bailing did occur to Richard and the night before their meet up he even drafted a text to send but after reading it out loud he realized it made him sound extra pathetic and even more of an asshole than usual so he deleted it and set his alarm instead.
"Not really, I'm getting tired just looking at these people." He says dryly and follows Max further into the gym, feeling very much like an outsider. Everyone is dressed in tight yoga pants, crop top bras, muscle shirts and shorts and here he is in an old pair of black sweat pants and a band T-shirt that has a stain at the bottom.
"How often are you here?" Because it seems that Max knows quite a few of the others which would imply he's a regular.
If it helps much, Max is wearing much the same; sweats, a tee that's certainly seen better days. It's not his usual attire most of the time, but then this isn't a usual session for him. This is for Richard, and everything he can do to help him feel less like a sore thumb, the better.
"Four times a week. One lower body day, one upper, two full. Bit of cardio on all of them, sorted. But you don't need to do all that to see benefits from it, I just enjoy it. Bit of time to myself, doing somethin' for myself. Feels good."
He leads him past rows of treadmills, off to the far corner where the free weights and mats are neatly laid out, clean and organised.
"I'm not gonna be cruel and chuck you on the stairmaster for forty minutes; we'll get you warmed up a bit, see what kind of weight you can comfortably hold, and go from there. Give me your best effort for half an hour, and there's coffee in it for you."
If Richard knew that Max had tried to dress down for him he would appreciate it, although he would also argue that even in sweats and an old t-shirt Max looks like a model for a fireman's calendar and not an average joe.
"FOUR times A WEEK!" Richard exclaims loudly, causing a few people to look at them curiously as they head over to the free weight corner.
"Guess that explains why you're built like a brick shit-house." He muses as he peers at the weights, "And I appreciate you not making me climb stairs. I would probably puke my guts out if you did."
A pause and then, "Uh. So. How do I get warmed up?"
(ooc: PLEASE KNOW that Max being a firefighter/becoming one to sell calendars is a running joke for him on plurk, so that made me laugh out loud )
The exclamation only makes him snort. "Some of this lot are here every day, four days is pretty average."
He doesn't need to tell him that a big part of his session involves hauling 350lb sandbags about or deadlifting near double that. The quantity of sessions is average; the content is fucking mental.
"A lot've it's genetic - something like 70%, I dunno. My sister's the scientist." And then, in reply to Richard's next question, comes the part that so many people hate doing in front of others. Easy enough to get into a set once you've got the weights in hand, but warming up can feel like you're back in P.E class.
Max just starts rolling his shoulders back, motioning for Richard to copy him.
"Just start with thirty seconds-ish of these one way, then again going the other way. Some of these you'll feel like a bit of a pillock, but it's important."
And then it's arm circles, band pull-aparts with a resistance band, thoracic twists, and some unfortunately named shoulder-dislocates. The usual, all easy enough, but also telling about his general upper mobility.
[ooc: Bwhahaha that's so unintentionally perfect then! XD]
The idea of being at the gym EVERY day makes Richard gag and he does so mockingly as a response to that, it's childish and stupid but that's Richard all over, especially when he feels uncomfortable. Which he does at the moment, especially when Max starts motioning for him to copy his movements.
"You're right. I do feel like a pillock." He says as he begrudgingly joins in on the warm up, trying hard not to watch the way Max's shoulder and arm muscles ripple with the movement. His own movements are creaky and stiff, he doesn't move his body all that much unless it's a full moon and then...well...he has a much different body during those times.
"Your sister is a scientist? Are you guys kind of a brawn and brains duo or something?"
"But we're pillocks together. No one's payin' attention, don't worry."
He gives him a grin, and a half shrug in answer to his question. "There's three of us, older sister and older brother - but they're both insanely clever. She's a professor at Cambridge, he's a consultant paediatric neurosurgeon. If anyone in the family got the brains, it's them two."
That's not to say Max isn't smart; but they certainly have the more dazzling resumes out of the three Rooker siblings.
Once it's been a few minutes, he nods over to the free weights. "Alright - go shopping. Find a weight you're comfortable with; if you're not sure about one, go a set lighter."
"Geez your family got all the good genes didn't they?" He muses sarcastically as he finishes up the warm up and then goes to stare at the weights, trying to gauge what a "comfortable" but not entirely pathetic set would be.
"Uh....what do you usually use?" He asks, stalling for time.
The second Richard starts laughing, Max starts grinning and laughing himself, and claps him on the shoulder. It's all good-natured, and while he wouldn't tell him - because God forbid this man get a compliment - his whole face changes when he laughs. He lights up.
It's nice to see.
"Not so much 'you suck', but maybe let's keep it realistic."
He picks up one of the smaller dumbbell, an 8kg, and hands it over. "How's that, and be honest - reckon you can go heavier, or do you wanna go lighter? And before you answer, this?" Max spreads his arms out, and moves them as if he's demonstrating a circle around them. "This is a magic fucking circle where it's impossible to sound pathetic, wow incredible, I'm a wizard."
Richard's laugh is almost a giggle and it transforms him from a sarcastic asshole to a rather charming guy, his smile and laugh are definitely the most attractive things about him.
"You say keep it realistic but then claim to be a wizard." He teases Max with a grin but takes the weight from him, hoisting it up and down a little and then nods.
"I think this is good. It feels heavy but not like 'holy shit I'm going to get a hernia lifting this in an effort to impress you' kind of way."
It really does; Max just hopes he can keep the mood up for the rest of the session at least.
"Yeah, I'm a realistic wizard - don't cheapen my degree alright, I worked hard for it."
He watches him, nodding when it seems like the weight works for him. With a smirk, he grabs the second, matching weight, hands that over as well. "The only way I want you to impress me is by giving this your best shot, yeah? I don't care if you can only do one set of each, just give me your best effort."
With a hand at Richard's back, Max guides him over to a clear space, away from the dumbbell racks and out of the way.
"Alright; you wanna keep it simple - really, all you need is to hit each muscle group and you're sorted, you don't need to do five exercises for each one, doesn't need to be complicated. If your form's good, even if you only get a couple of sets in, that's better than doing a shitload more but half-assing it."
As he lists the different muscle groups, he touches them on his own arm. "We're talkin' biceps, triceps, the shoulders, chest, and back. So," Max pretends he's holding a pair of weights himself, and demonstrates how the first movement will go. "bicep curl - you wanna keep your elbows tucked close to your sides throughout. But when you're bringing them down, keep it a little slower, controlled. Let's go for twenty."
With the second weight added to his other hand it is definitely a bit more difficult but still manageable, what's more difficult is staying focused on what Max is saying as he touches each of his own muscle groups. It's distracting, having each of these bulging muscles pointed out and Richard tries not to stare at Max's biceps.
"Elbows tucked...right. Okay." He muses out loud, his eyes still on Max's muscles but then he realizes that Max is expecting him to start the actual workout.
"Oh. Uh sorry." He mutters and tries to get into the same position as Max, which feels a bit like a joke. He looks like a fun house mirror reflection compared to the other man but he tries to put that thought aside and just lift the weights like he was told.
"Is this right?" He asks as he slowly does the move.
He notices Richard looking - have to be fucking blind not to - but he doesn't draw attention to it. Focuses instead on him, keeping the smile on his face encouraging instead of quietly amused. Flattered.
"Yeah, that's perfect - make sure you're inhaling on the easier bit, when you're lowerin' 'em down, and exhale when you're curling back up. There you go."
And then, when the last movement's done; "And you're done, gorgeous stuff. Chuck 'em down, give your arms a bit of a shake out. Not so bad right?"
"Inhale and exhale. So basically I should remember to breathe?" Richard asks sarcastically but does try to follow Max's instructions for the next few reps. His sarcasm is never hostile, it's just his natural tone of voice most of the time.
"Yeah I guess that wasn't too bad." He admits and puts the weights down carefully. "Now what?"
Claurant's already in the throes of cooking by the time the front door opens, wine opened and a glass poured for himself on the counter, half-full and only half-abandoned. He's just about to turn and grab another sip of it when he hears Richard's voice, setting the glass back down and moving the pan off the stove so he can greet him properly.
"There you are — oh." He pauses, tilting his head as he gets a better look at him. "You really did pass out in an iHop parking lot, didn't you? Did you sleep at all? Properly, I mean."
"You're welcome," he says with a cheeky grin. Claurant takes the jacket before it hits his sofa, taking it over to the coat rack by the door before he waltzes his way back towards the kitchen, crooking a finger to invite Richard to follow.
"Close enough. I thought you were about to say you'd only gotten your rest in a parking lot."
"I do. Or my daughter does. One of us tries to cook every night if we're home, but it's a matter of — if we're home. She's gallivanting off with her little friends again today, so, we have the house to ourselves. Isn't that fun?" Claurant turns to put the pan back onto the stove, glancing over his shoulder towards him. "You can pour yourself a glass of wine if you'd like. Unless you want me to pour it for you?"
"Yes I do. She's older, so. I had her young." Claurant waves a hand about half-heartedly. "I wouldn't replace her with the world if you offered it to me, but I'll always encourage people to be more responsible than I was."
Lucina was everything to him, and also a herald of nearly every mistake he's ever made. He can only hope she's not a herald of mistakes to come, as well.
"I'll never say no to a glass of wine," he says. "Pour me one."
"She was a one-night stand, really," Claurant explains, voice a little too light for the words he's about to deliver. "She's also dead, so. If there was ever going to be a ring, I certainly wouldn't be wearing it now." He knows there are plenty of widows who never remarry, whose hearts are forever broken by the loss they've endured... but he's not that sort of person, as callous as that may be. His father's death showcased that well enough.
Claurant shrugs, taking the glass and clinking it against Richard's own. "I didn't really know her well, honestly, and neither did Lucie. I know it's cold, but it's just... a thing that happened. A tragic thing, but a thing nonetheless, so. You didn't offend me at all by asking."
He chuckles, taking a sip of his wine. "Again, it's fine. Though now to make it fair I have to start prying into your love life."
Richard doesn't really think it's all that cold, Claurant is just being honest. He didn't know the woman very well so why should he be grieving forever because of one night of passion?
"Feel free to pry but I'll warn you now there's not much to tell." He says with a snort and then takes a large gulp of wine.
Just wait until you hear about how he grieves his father, Richard.
"Oh, I'm prying." Claurant gives him a devilish grin before he returns to the stove to finish off the gravy, stirring animatedly while he talks. "You're far from ugly, Richard, and there's a soul for every hole so to speak, so I expect someone took interest at some point. Yes?"
"What makes you say that, hm?" Claurant asks, too busy stirring to take a second look at Richard. From what he has seen however, he wouldn't at all call him ugly; he's got a rugged, kind-of-nerdy charm to him that he's sure would catch the eye of plenty a person, provided there was a personality to match.
"Oh, you flatter me," he says at the line comment, circling his way back to Richard's previous statement. "But see what I mean. There's interest out there, you just have to find it, darling. Or let it find you. Trouble loves walking in through an open door."
"Because it's the truth." He's not blind or dumb, he knows what he is. A 42 year old nerd who is out of shape, has a lot of body hair (especially around a full moon) and no ambition or prospects.
"I don't have big bulging muscles or rugged good looks." He takes another gulp of wine and snorts.
"And I'm too old and fat to be a twink so that basically leaves me in the 'undesireable' bin."
"You can't be that much older than I am, in that case, we're both old." Claurant's the sort to already stress that he's forty years young, thank you, but for sake of commiserating with Richard he'll refrain.
"Perhaps not to the masses, but when have the masses been correct about anything, Richard? Ignore them. If they don't want you, you have to prove to them how much of a loss that is. Which, I wholeheartedly believe you can do."
He snorts again and finishes off his glass of wine, reaching around Claurant to pour himself more. "It doesn't matter if the masses are correct or not, it's simple math. If 99% of people find you undesirable then 99% of people aren't going to fuck you."
He shrugs, "It's just the way the world works and no amount of me proving anything will change it."
"40, actually. I'm flattered you think I'm 35, however," he says, batting his eyelashes at him.
Perhaps Claurant's had it terribly easy in comparison, when it comes to his dalliances. He may not be the proper person to empathize with Richard's predicament, as he's not exactly seeing what Richard is. Claurant can see the off-beat charm in him, anyway, or perhaps he's easy to please.
"99%, I think, is an over-exaggeration. But I can't really fault anyone for being dramatic, now can I?"
"Are you seriously only TWO years younger than me?" Richard asks and then rolls his eyes, "Fuck yooou man. You look great. Especially for someone who has a KID."
In all honesty it's Richard who looks like a Dad.
"And I guess not, seeing how you have a flair for the dramatics yourself."
He catches a glimpse of himself in the reflective handle on the pan, smirking at Richard's remark. He does look good for his age. Given his lifestyle, he really shouldn't, but his father also looked absurdly, oddly young for his age. Maybe it was whatever strange, eldritch thing flowed through them, the blood of ancients keeping them younger and healthier than they ever really should be.
He's not going to delve into that, however. Not over dinner, not to Richard (now, anyway).
"Well, if it helps any, I thought you were younger than I was until you mentioned your age." Claurant sets about plating their dinner, since it's just about done.
"A flair for dramatics may as well be my middle name. Come, sit, I'm almost done."
[ooc: thank you, I love that scene so I had to make an icon to capture it.]
"Bullshit you did." Richard says with an eyeroll because there's no way that is true, he looks his age if not older depending on how shitty he is feeling.
"Kay." He says and then motions towards what he thinks is the dinning room, "Just in here?"
"Oh come now, I thought you were late-30s!" he calls, more focused on spooning out the roasted carrots without spilling any than the conversation, hence it taking him a while to reply. He glances over his shoulder again towards the room Richard's gone off into it, nodding his head once like it could be seen.
"There's perfect. I'll join you in a moment!"
And join in a moment he does, bearing two plates to set down wherever Richard decided to sit. When he chooses, Claurant takes the seat across from him, doubling back briefly for his wine.
"Dig in, by all means. It is still hot though, so be careful."
Richard doesn't need to be told twice to start eating, as soon as Claurant is seated and says dig in he does so, forking a large portion into his mouth and chewing happily.
"Holy shit, this is really good." He says between bites, "Where did you learn how to cook so well?"
He laughs, aware that he's good but still pleased to watch someone openly enjoy his cooking anyway. It's been a bit to hear so from anyone who wasn't his daughter. "Necessity. Mother isn't the best of cooks, bless her heart, so someone out of the two of us had to learn. I made sure I taught Lucie the moment she was able to learn, I didn't want her in the same position I was."
"Please. I dare you to ask me to make a real gourmet meal like a Wellington. I tried, trust me," Claurant laughs as he recalls his attempt at it. It was both burnt and undercooked at once, somehow.
"We alternate, yes. It depends mostly on who's home at the time and who feels like cooking, really. I have work and I tend to be out either for that or just... out," he shrugs. He doesn't clarify, because even he acknowledges how awful it sounds to say he leaves his daughter to her own devices so he can party or to sleep. "Or she's at that age where she has her own friends and goes out often. So it varies. She's a better baker than I am, I'll give her that, even if I have a few recipes I'm proud of."
"A Wellington? Isn't that the thing Gordon Ramsay is always yelling about?"
Richard wouldn't pass judgement on Claurant leaving his daughter alone to cook for herself, he's already proven himself to be 100 times more responsible than Richard by having a kid in the first place.
"The very same. And he'd loathe me who I butchered mine, so I'm glad we've never crossed paths."
Yes, the deception is working... continue to believe him to be a responsible man. He loves it.
"I'm a private investigator, actually. More civil cases than criminal ones, but I do get a fair share of criminal cases too. Disappearances, murders, white collar crimes... you name it, I've probably worked it once." He wonders whether or not to mention the book and decides to go for it. "... I've written a novel too. One. I don't entirely plan on publishing another, but it was nice to do."
"It is about a detective. He's not solving a proper case so much as he's digging into the history of his family, trying to root out the eldritch in it and discover more about who he is."
He doesn't tell Richard that the novel's practically an autobiography. He hasn't told anyone. Why would he? They say write what you know indeed, which is why Claurant hasn't been itching to write a second novel. He's told his story. So long as nothing else major happens, he's content with that.
"So it's like a Lovecraftian noir? Very cool." Richard says with a smile, "I played an 8-bit horror video game last year that kind of had the same idea."
His plate practically licked clean he pushes the dish away from him and leans back a little in his seat.
"So how does it end? Does he go mad or does it have a slightly happier ending?"
"That's exactly the way to describe it, yes." And exactly how to describe his life. In between his work he weaves an adventure into the depths of magic and mayhem, into the abyss time and time again. It's left its scars, on his hands and in his mind, and Claurant runs his fingers over a few of them as he thinks.
"I went for a bit of both. It ends overall well enough, but the protagonist is forever scarred and it's obvious." Was he predicting his own fate? Perhaps. "My agent said the original ending was a touch too grim."
He inclines his head towards the empty plate, still wringing his hands about each other. "I can fetch seconds for you if you want."
Claurant chuckles with a swirl of his wine, taking a measured sip before he speaks. "Maybe later," he says, and for a split second he wonders if he should have gone there, even as a joke.
The feeling's gone near immediately. Claurant regretting things is one thing, Claurant regretting an overtly flirtatious comment is almost unheard of.
"Well, you've never told me what you do. We can't just talk about me all the time, can we?"
You underestimate Claurant's capacity to flirt with just about anyone.
"Isn't that technically a career? Freelancing?" Claurant says, wondering if he misinterpreted him. "Some people do that. Who am I to judge you, honestly?"
"Yeaaaah I think technically it's just called being a loser." He says with a snort, "Which is fine. I work in order to pay rent, not to feel fulfilled."
"I can't name many people work is truly fulfilling for, and those few people are incredibly lucky. I wouldn't feel bad about it," he says assuredly, taking another sip of his wine.
Richard honestly still doesn't know how or why Lois has agreed to go out for drinks with him but he isn't about to ask in case it fucks everything up, he rarely has anyone let alone anyone as gorgeous as her saying yes to such things so instead he just shows up at the Two Parrots a few mins after 8pm wearing what he hopes is casual but suitable attire for such a date.
I mean, if it is a date. He's really not sure if it is or not, he hopes it is and he tells his heart to stop beating so hard when he sees Lois sitting at a little table near the back.
"Uh hey." He says once he is close enough that she looks up. "You been waiting long?"
Lois meant what she said about wanting to keep things casual. She’s not thinking of this as a date. More just drinks with a guy whom she wants to get to know better. After getting a bit carried away with their sexting the other night, Lois thinks she ought to at least give Richard a chance. It was… surprisingly enjoyable.
She’s wearing what she wore to work that day, a white shirt with black pants and a black vest and her chunky loafers. When he approaches, she looks up at him from her bottle of beer.
“Hey. Not too long.” Lois smiles at him. “Nice jacket.”
“It is,” she confirms. “I keep myself busy.” Lois could do less, but that’s not the type of person that she is. Her work is her life.
“I’m looking into the unsolved murder of a gas station owner from three years ago. The police think it was a robbery gone wrong, but I’ve uncovered some things that are making me think differently.”
Lois inhales, contemplating. “I don’t want to say too much, because it will all be in my article, but there was evidence that has come up missing. Suspicious coincidences, things like that.”
“Polite until people I’m interviewing start dodging my questions,” she replies. Then she becomes like a bulldog.
“Fiction or non-fiction? I read a lot of non-fiction books by journalists who have invested various topics or incidents. On the fiction side, mostly mysteries. What about you?”
It doesn't surprise him to hear that about her, she has that kind of vibe and he's thankful they are just hanging out and that he's not being interviewed by her because she'd sense something off right away. He's not a great liar by any means.
"I love a good mystery, or any kind of dumb pulp fiction thing. Especially if it's got some raunchy sex in it."
Lois can’t help but roll her eyes at that. “They have whole books filled with just raunchy sex,” she replies. He’s pretty horny. Not that Lois isn’t horny. It’s part of why she came here tonight.
“Why do you think you’re an asshole?” she asks. He’s been pretty nice so far, raunchy sex mentions aside.
"Well yeah but that's just porn without plot, if I want that I'll just put on an actual porno." He says with a little shrug. "If I'm reading I like there to be a little more story with my raunchy sex."
The sudden question causes him to blink in surprise and shrug again.
"Because I've been told I am one? I'm rude, blunt, have no class. The list of my shortcomings goes on and on."
“Is there raunchy sex in those pulp fiction detective novels?” she asks. Clearly, she’s not reading the right ones.
Lois takes a sip of beer before continuing. “And I’ve been told that I’m a bitch, but I don’t think that I am, most of the time.” She can’t say never. “Do you think that you act like an asshole?”
“Well, yeah,” Lois replies. “That’s different. Saying wrong things doesn’t make you an asshole. Maybe inconsiderate at times, or brash. I just think of assholes as being mean on purpose, which is why I was wondering why you were so quick to refer to yourself as one.”
That’s the thing about Richard. While he’s certainly not conventionally hot, he’s not terrible-looking either. Lois isn’t unattracted to him physically. It’s his personality and work ethic that give her pause.
“I should know by now not to ask,” she replies. “What kind of odd jobs?” Lois puts a hand up. “If the odd jobs involve OnlyFans or something, please spare me those details.”
Lois gives him a look. “Well, yeah.” What did he think would happen?
She leans back against the booth, appraising him for a moment. “I’ve asked enough questions.” If she digs any more, whatever she uncovers probably won’t endear him any further to her. “Do you have any questions for me?”
He was hoping that because it was an empty parking lot they might be a bit more lenient for his missed days but that wasn't the case. But it's not like he wanted to miss the shifts, he just couldn't do them because of the full moon and his boss wouldn't listen.
Her sudden shift makes him blink and he takes a second, looking at her quietly for a moment before speaking.
"Do you ever get scared? Like real, full on terrified?"
That’s an interesting question. Lois’s face doesn’t betray any surprise though.
“I have been, a few times when working on stories. You don’t expose corruption without making the people that are doing the corrupting pissed off. I’ve received threats before.”
“I tell myself that I’m doing my job to help people tell their stories to the world. To hopefully help them get justice. I turn threats over to the police. I’ve learned self-defense. I keep a bat by my front door. I tell myself that the discomfort and fear is temporary, that it will be worth it in the end.”
Lois laughs a little at that. “I don’t think most Americans carry guns. I’m not current on the stats… a lot have them, but not many actually carry them around.”
She sips her beer. “I thought about it. I know how to shoot. That doesn’t mean that I like guns though, and I’d rather not have one in my house unless some psychopath decides to take one of my articles really personally. Then I’ll have to rethink my decision to just rely on the bat and my fists.”
"If it's any consolation I think that you have such a dominant and strong personality that you probably wouldn't need to bust out the bat if someone popped by to complain about your articles." He says with a smirk, "You'd probably scare the shit out of 95% of those weirdos."
"Right! Yeah!" He says, his eyes lighting up from both her little admission and the topic of music. It's one of his passions and as he speaks he leans forward excitedly.
"I've seen a ton of really good ones, but probably one of the best was Siouxsie and the Banshees. They almost never tour in Canada and it was in a medium sized venue so I could get really close to the stage."
When their eyes meet he feels a weird sense of pride and sudden bashfulness at her compliment and he shrugs, hoping his cheeks aren't going red because he's pretty sure she will tease him about that.
"Yeah well, you kind of made it easy what with being so cool and everything."
She looks up again and notices the blushing, but doesn’t make fun of him. He seems to genuinely like her, and she’s not the sort to take advantage of someone like that — at least not seriously.
Lois is quiet for another moment before she speaks again.
“Let me be honest with you, Richard. It’s been a while since I’ve had sex. The other night on the phone… I really enjoyed myself. I’m curious to find out if you’re more than just talk.”
"Yeah you did." She was probably one of the coolest chicks he's met, the fact that she's so honest and willing to call him out on his bullshit makes him not only respect her a ton but also feel comfortable around her. It's like having a really good guy friend who is extremely sexy and has tits.
"I'll be honest as well, I haven't had sex in a while either and if you want to satiate that curiousity I'm all yours. No strings or expectations."
A beat and then he grins at her, "I am all talk though, just not in that way."
“Oh, so that’s what you’re into?” Lois smiles. “Fortunately for you, I like dirty talk during sex, so I wouldn’t want to gag you.”
She finishes her beer and puts the glass down on the table.
“Should we get out of here? My place?”
Lois would feel more comfortable at her place. There’s a brief worry that if he comes over he might never leave, but Lois is extremely good at kicking people out if she has to.
He laughs at that but the second she suggests they leave and go to her place the laughter stops and he literally chugs the rest of his beer, slams the glass down and jumps to his feet.
His eagerness is a bit off putting, but at least he’s excited. He probably can’t believe how lucky he’s gotten. Like winning the lottery. Lois would be excited too.
It’s not a long drive, and then Lois is unlocking the door to her apartment so that they can enter. She puts a few lights on. “Sit wherever,” Lois says, indicating the living room couches. “Then we can discuss some ground rules.”
Richard comes in, looking around her apartment curiously as he shrugs out of his beat up bomber jacket and kicks off his shoes. This might seem weird to her but he's Canadian and in his mind it's even WEIRDER to wear shoes in the house.
"Ground rules. Got it." He muses as he takes a seat on the couch.
“As I said, I’m not looking for a relationship. Therefore, anything between us…” Lois wags her pointer finger in the air between the two of them. “Is not a relationship. I’m not your girlfriend. We do not have to go on dates. I’ll spend time with you as a friend, but we are not together. Any questions so far?”
She’s blunt. Better to just lay everything out on the table before things get complicated and feelings get hurt.
"Gotcha boss." He says with a little smile, he likes that she's blunt and 100% honest with him. It makes everything so much easier and clear which is great because he can be an idiot sometimes.
“It’s not going to be every night, so don’t get your hopes up with that,” she continues. “I might say no. Obviously, there’s no commitment here, so you’re welcome to go fuck someone else.
I don’t care if you spend the night after we have sex, but you’re leaving the next morning. You’re not moving in.”
Boundaries. Lois isn’t here to feed and entertain him. Again… not a relationship. No obligations on either of their parts.
"There's not going to be a lot of other people clamouring to have sex with me, I can guarantee that, but if there IS I'll give you a heads up in case you have any sexual health concerns."
He says in a shocking display of maturity and responsible thinking. She isn't his girlfriend but she's a friend and he's not going to put her health and comfort on the line.
He tilts his head back, thinking for a moment if there's anything he wants to ask her but she's already laid things out clearly and she's kind of the one calling the shots. He's just the lucky duck who gets to have sex with such a cool chick.
"Hrmmmmm...." He hums and then looks at her with a sweet smile.
Lois huffs a laugh at that. “If you say so.” He actually has a nice smile. “Anyway, I’m not the only one who can make demands. You can ask for what you want, and I can determine if I want to honor it.”
She stands up. “You think about it for a few minutes. I’ll be right back. Do you want anything? Something to drink?”
After giving Richard a drink if he wants one, Lois disappears into her bedroom to change and pull the box of condoms out of her drawer. She tosses them on the bed, presuming that she and him will end up there eventually. Ultimately, she decides to take a few with her when she emerges from her room.
“You know, it actually is a sexy look.”
Lois is wearing the outfit from their sexting the other night: her Ramones shirt with no bra underneath, a pair of panties, and her Doc Martens. Her long, dark hair cascades down over her shoulders.
Richard suspects that the only demand he'll make is "more please" but he nods in agreement and accepts the drink, opening the bottle of beer and taking a long sip while she disappears into her room for a few moments. He feels giddy, excited but also a little relieved now that she's set the boundaries and expectations. He deals better with things when he knows what's expected of him and Lois has gracefully set the bar pretty damn low for him.
"Huhn?" Turning to see what she's talking about he freezes when he sees her, his eyes going wide as they take in her body and outfit and he only snaps out of it when the beer he was about to drink sloshes onto his face.
"holy FUCK!" He barks and wipes at his mouth, his eyes sliding up and down her body appreciatively. "I mean...damnit! You did that on purpose!!" He accuses her with a laugh.
Lois laughs lightly at his reaction. “Made you spill your drink? No. But I did want to surprise you.”
She lets him take her all in for a moment, then sits down on the couch where he had been sitting previously. Lois puts the condoms on the coffee table. “Come here.” Richard is the type of man who responds to commands, so she’ll happily give him some. “Join me.”
She doesn't have to tell him twice, he puts his beer down on the coffee table next to the condoms and slides off the couch. Crawling on all fours until he comes to rest on his knees next to her, his eyes eagerly looking at her bare legs.
"You look incredible." He says, one of his hands moving to slip up her combat boot and onto her leg.
The crawling is a bit much and Lois raises an eyebrow at him. She doesn’t mind being dominant, but she doesn’t want to completely subjugate him. A totally submissive man isn’t attractive to her.
“Thanks,” Lois replies. “You don’t have to stay on the floor if you don’t want to.”
He isn't trying to be submissive, it's just a bit of his animal side instinctively coming out and when she pats the spot next to her he scoots up, throwing an arm around her shoulders.
"I mean I kind of want to because you've got dynamite legs but I also want to kiss you so...." He says with a grin and leans in to nuzzle her neck a little.
It's easier to be brave now that she's both draping herself across his lap and the fact that he can smell her attraction, he only fully transforms three nights of the month but his sense of smell is always more powerful than a human's and as he nuzzles her neck he breathes in a deep whiff of her scent.
"You smell really good." He murmurs against her skin, his voice dropping lower and he places a few soft kisses on her pulse before shifting his face up to catch her lips in a slow, soft kiss.
“What do I smell like?” she asks out of curiosity. Lois had dabbed on some perfume before work, but that was early this morning. Surely he can’t still smell it.
Her breath catches just before he kisses her. She’s struck by how sweet and soft it is, not crashing his mouth against hers. Still, it isn’t shy either.
Maybe she’s underestimated him.
Lois opens her mouth slightly against his as she twists her fingers in his shirt.
He can smell the faint remains of her perfume but that isn't what is so intoxicating, that's the smell of her warm skin, the sweat she's built up during the day, her pheromones rising up from her pores and even the sticky sweet smell of her pussy. That's what he smells and luckily he doesn't have to answer her question because their lips are busy and when she opens her mouth he eagerly does the same. His tongue licking in almost delicately, as if she were an expensive drink he wants to taste.
With the way her arousal grows as they kiss, she’s going to give him more and more of her scent to enjoy. Lois gasps a breath before going back in, her tongue stroking against his. He tastes like beer, but she’s certainly tasted worse.
Eventually, she needs more air and she breaks the kiss, though she doesn’t go far. “Mmm,” she murmurs against his mouth. “I like that.”
A little shiver goes through her at the sound of that gruff voice. His normal voice is kind of nasal and high pitched, so it’s a surprise to hear something like a growl coming from him.
“Oh. I want to mention that you have my consent to touch me anywhere. If I don’t like something, I’ll tell you to stop.”
With that out of the way, Lois cups his rough cheek and leans back in, this time sucking his lower lip into her mouth.
A surge of arousal goes through his body as she sucks his lip into her mouth and he presses in against her, his hands immediately moving to touch her now that she's given her consent. One goes to her waist while the other slides down her bare leg, savouring the feeling of her warm, bare skin as he kisses her deeply.
Lois hums in her throat as they kiss, one hand resting on his chest as the other holds his jaw, her thumb brushing over his stubble. His hands on her feel delightful and she sighs with want when she pulls away to breathe.
It’s on the tip of her tongue to give him some instructions, but Lois holds back for now. She wants to see what he does instinctively.
[Richard shrugs off the old beaten up leather bomber jacket he's wearing and hangs it up before standing in the kitchen archway to watch Richard work in the kitchen.]
Do you always leave your doors unlocked? That's a good way to killed you know.
[After Lois has arrived and dealt with the bail she is instructed to sit and wait on a row of plastic seats while they go get Richard.
When he emerges from the back room he is dressed in a mismatched sweatpants set, his hair tousled and eyes tired, although they light up a bit when he sees Lois.]
Fuck. How should he answer that? He can't tell her the truth, fuuuck think Richard! Luckily he is able to stall a little while going to the ATM and getting her half the cash he owes, which brings his meagre amount to about $500 but that's for him to worry about later right now he has to answer her question.
"I had a really bad panic attack last night." He says as he hands over the cash. "And I thought drinking would calm me down."
It's a hasty answer but not entirely false, he always panics right before he transforms because he knows how much it will hurt and sometimes getting plastered helps blur the pain a bit.
"No, I might be able to get it back home since we've got free healthcare but I can't afford meds here in the States."
Well, now Lois is definitely curious, after a response like that. She won’t question it for now, but she plans to run his name on a few databases she has access to.
It’s actually kind of surprising that she hasn’t run his name yet.
“Maybe you should consider getting blackout drunk at home next time.”
If and when she runs his name she won't get very much; a few unpaid parking tickets, minor arrests back home for probably similar drunken behavior. The most notable thing she will find will be a newspaper article about him surviving a brutal animal attack.
"I usually try to." He says and groans, holding his head for a moment.
"Fuck I feel like garbage, guess I look it too huhn?"
Lois shrugs. “I wasn’t really doing anything yet.” It’s Saturday, and while she doesn’t work as much on the weekends, she usually does a few work-related things in the afternoons and evenings. “I have a few of my colleagues’ stories to read over and send feedback to before they’re approved to print.”
"Huhn." Richard muses and un-fastens his seat belt once she's parked. "This is going to sound stupid but I never actually thought that anytime a news article says 'sources say' it's actually a real person you're getting the info from."
“Sometimes it isn’t,” Lois says as she locks the car. “Depends on the quality of the paper. In celebrity gossip? Usually fake.”
Inside, the diner is standard fare. A counter. A row of booths. Nothing fancy. But the coffee is decent and the food is good. A number of the waitresses say hi to her, which shows how often she’s here. Sometimes she comes alone to write.
Lois and Richard sit down across from each other in a booth. After ordering some coffee, she studies him.
He sits down in the booth with a long sigh, grateful to be in an easy, simple environment. After a full moon transformation he always feels like he's been rubbed against a cheese grater, his skin feels tight and sounds are always so much more intense.
"What?" He asks and then rubs a hand over his weary face. "Oh. A couple of times, all for stupid shit."
“Not when I’m caught in places that I’m not allowed to be in.” She smiles back at him, unsure if he’s just trying to put on a brave face for her. He’s a mess.
Their coffee comes and Lois unloads at least 5 packets of sugar into hers.
“Yeah, that’ll do it. I remember when I used to be able to sleep on a floor with no problems. Now? My back will be messed up for days. Getting older is great.”
“Nah, this is perfect,” she says before taking a sip. No creamer. Just black coffee and a lot of sugar.
Lois smirks at him. “You know what ‘chicks’ hate more than being asked their age? Being referred to as ‘chicks’.” She takes another sip. “I already told you though. 35.”
Richard snorts and rolls his eyes, "Sorry. Chicks, girls, women, dames, ladies, female presenting human beings. Whatever."
"And I'm sure you did but my brain is barely working." He says and takes a long sip of his black coffee. "I barely remember my own fucking age right now."
"If we were in an old detective novel you'd totally be a dame." He says with a little smile, "You'd be 'that crazy news hawk dame with a pistol in her purse.'"
Richard meanwhile orders some bacon and toast.
"Yeah 42, and mostly just to make sure I don't have to mock you for calling yourself old. I hate it when 20 somethings are like 'omg I'm sooooo old now'."
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
for @writorwrong (tfln gym day continued)
Date: 2025-11-17 10:59 pm (UTC)Typically Sunday is thought to be a day of rest but let's face it, for an unemployed slug like Richard, most days are kind of like Sunday's. Usually he sleeps in until noon and then drags his ass out of bed long enough to make coffee and turn on the TV or his computer. But today he is rudely woken up at 8:30am by his alarm so that he can meet Max at the gym for 9am.
He's still half asleep and as he looks around the gym for his friend he resembles a mole rat, one who has popped up from a long slumber underground only to look bleary eyed up at the sun.
"Jesus. Are all these people on speed?" He muses out loud as he looks at all the gym-goers who are already working out on the floor. It's the only thing that makes sense right? Who naturally has this much energy?
no subject
Date: 2025-11-18 02:07 pm (UTC)"Y'alright, sunshine? Glad you made it."
It's clear the poor guy's still half asleep, but Max doesn't have torture planned for him; he'll go easy on him. He wants him to come back, after all.
no subject
Date: 2025-11-18 08:24 pm (UTC)"Not really, I'm getting tired just looking at these people." He says dryly and follows Max further into the gym, feeling very much like an outsider. Everyone is dressed in tight yoga pants, crop top bras, muscle shirts and shorts and here he is in an old pair of black sweat pants and a band T-shirt that has a stain at the bottom.
"How often are you here?" Because it seems that Max knows quite a few of the others which would imply he's a regular.
no subject
Date: 2025-11-18 09:34 pm (UTC)"Four times a week. One lower body day, one upper, two full. Bit of cardio on all of them, sorted. But you don't need to do all that to see benefits from it, I just enjoy it. Bit of time to myself, doing somethin' for myself. Feels good."
He leads him past rows of treadmills, off to the far corner where the free weights and mats are neatly laid out, clean and organised.
"I'm not gonna be cruel and chuck you on the stairmaster for forty minutes; we'll get you warmed up a bit, see what kind of weight you can comfortably hold, and go from there. Give me your best effort for half an hour, and there's coffee in it for you."
no subject
Date: 2025-11-18 09:55 pm (UTC)"FOUR times A WEEK!" Richard exclaims loudly, causing a few people to look at them curiously as they head over to the free weight corner.
"Guess that explains why you're built like a brick shit-house." He muses as he peers at the weights, "And I appreciate you not making me climb stairs. I would probably puke my guts out if you did."
A pause and then, "Uh. So. How do I get warmed up?"
no subject
Date: 2025-11-18 10:16 pm (UTC)The exclamation only makes him snort. "Some of this lot are here every day, four days is pretty average."
He doesn't need to tell him that a big part of his session involves hauling 350lb sandbags about or deadlifting near double that. The quantity of sessions is average; the content is fucking mental.
"A lot've it's genetic - something like 70%, I dunno. My sister's the scientist." And then, in reply to Richard's next question, comes the part that so many people hate doing in front of others. Easy enough to get into a set once you've got the weights in hand, but warming up can feel like you're back in P.E class.
Max just starts rolling his shoulders back, motioning for Richard to copy him.
"Just start with thirty seconds-ish of these one way, then again going the other way. Some of these you'll feel like a bit of a pillock, but it's important."
And then it's arm circles, band pull-aparts with a resistance band, thoracic twists, and some unfortunately named shoulder-dislocates. The usual, all easy enough, but also telling about his general upper mobility.
no subject
Date: 2025-11-19 03:33 am (UTC)The idea of being at the gym EVERY day makes Richard gag and he does so mockingly as a response to that, it's childish and stupid but that's Richard all over, especially when he feels uncomfortable. Which he does at the moment, especially when Max starts motioning for him to copy his movements.
"You're right. I do feel like a pillock." He says as he begrudgingly joins in on the warm up, trying hard not to watch the way Max's shoulder and arm muscles ripple with the movement. His own movements are creaky and stiff, he doesn't move his body all that much unless it's a full moon and then...well...he has a much different body during those times.
"Your sister is a scientist? Are you guys kind of a brawn and brains duo or something?"
no subject
Date: 2025-11-19 10:15 pm (UTC)He gives him a grin, and a half shrug in answer to his question. "There's three of us, older sister and older brother - but they're both insanely clever. She's a professor at Cambridge, he's a consultant paediatric neurosurgeon. If anyone in the family got the brains, it's them two."
That's not to say Max isn't smart; but they certainly have the more dazzling resumes out of the three Rooker siblings.
Once it's been a few minutes, he nods over to the free weights. "Alright - go shopping. Find a weight you're comfortable with; if you're not sure about one, go a set lighter."
no subject
Date: 2025-11-19 11:27 pm (UTC)"Uh....what do you usually use?" He asks, stalling for time.
no subject
Date: 2025-11-20 10:39 pm (UTC)Max looks at the heavier end of the dumbbell bench.
Max looks back at Richard.
"Let's focus on you, yeah?"
no subject
Date: 2025-11-20 11:47 pm (UTC)He's obviously kidding since he's laughing so hard at Max's reaction.
"That was the best 'stop fooling yourself, you suck' expression I've seen in a long time."
no subject
Date: 2025-11-21 10:21 am (UTC)It's nice to see.
"Not so much 'you suck', but maybe let's keep it realistic."
He picks up one of the smaller dumbbell, an 8kg, and hands it over. "How's that, and be honest - reckon you can go heavier, or do you wanna go lighter? And before you answer, this?" Max spreads his arms out, and moves them as if he's demonstrating a circle around them. "This is a magic fucking circle where it's impossible to sound pathetic, wow incredible, I'm a wizard."
no subject
Date: 2025-11-23 02:14 am (UTC)"You say keep it realistic but then claim to be a wizard." He teases Max with a grin but takes the weight from him, hoisting it up and down a little and then nods.
"I think this is good. It feels heavy but not like 'holy shit I'm going to get a hernia lifting this in an effort to impress you' kind of way."
no subject
Date: 2025-11-24 11:10 pm (UTC)"Yeah, I'm a realistic wizard - don't cheapen my degree alright, I worked hard for it."
He watches him, nodding when it seems like the weight works for him. With a smirk, he grabs the second, matching weight, hands that over as well. "The only way I want you to impress me is by giving this your best shot, yeah? I don't care if you can only do one set of each, just give me your best effort."
With a hand at Richard's back, Max guides him over to a clear space, away from the dumbbell racks and out of the way.
"Alright; you wanna keep it simple - really, all you need is to hit each muscle group and you're sorted, you don't need to do five exercises for each one, doesn't need to be complicated. If your form's good, even if you only get a couple of sets in, that's better than doing a shitload more but half-assing it."
As he lists the different muscle groups, he touches them on his own arm. "We're talkin' biceps, triceps, the shoulders, chest, and back. So," Max pretends he's holding a pair of weights himself, and demonstrates how the first movement will go. "bicep curl - you wanna keep your elbows tucked close to your sides throughout. But when you're bringing them down, keep it a little slower, controlled. Let's go for twenty."
no subject
Date: 2025-11-25 10:05 pm (UTC)"Elbows tucked...right. Okay." He muses out loud, his eyes still on Max's muscles but then he realizes that Max is expecting him to start the actual workout.
"Oh. Uh sorry." He mutters and tries to get into the same position as Max, which feels a bit like a joke. He looks like a fun house mirror reflection compared to the other man but he tries to put that thought aside and just lift the weights like he was told.
"Is this right?" He asks as he slowly does the move.
DW ATE MY REPLY I thought I got back to this days ago sobs aggressively arthur fist meme
Date: 2025-11-27 10:19 pm (UTC)"Yeah, that's perfect - make sure you're inhaling on the easier bit, when you're lowerin' 'em down, and exhale when you're curling back up. There you go."
And then, when the last movement's done; "And you're done, gorgeous stuff. Chuck 'em down, give your arms a bit of a shake out. Not so bad right?"
Boooo DW! Stop eating shit you're not supposed to! XP
Date: 2025-11-28 12:11 am (UTC)"Yeah I guess that wasn't too bad." He admits and puts the weights down carefully. "Now what?"
for @fathersonspirit (tfln continued)
Date: 2025-12-02 06:20 pm (UTC)He said half an hour but it's more like 40 mins when Richard actually shows up, looking a little worse for wear considering his previous evening.
"Hellooo?" He calls out as he opens the unlocked door. "Avon calling!"
Re: for @fathersonspirit (tfln continued)
Date: 2025-12-04 03:26 pm (UTC)"There you are — oh." He pauses, tilting his head as he gets a better look at him. "You really did pass out in an iHop parking lot, didn't you? Did you sleep at all? Properly, I mean."
no subject
Date: 2025-12-04 06:38 pm (UTC)"And if by properly you mean in a bed? No. But I did take a nap on my couch for a bit."
no subject
Date: 2025-12-05 12:28 pm (UTC)"Close enough. I thought you were about to say you'd only gotten your rest in a parking lot."
no subject
Date: 2025-12-05 11:55 pm (UTC)"Smells pretty decent." A lie, it actually smells amazing but he doesn't want Claurant getting too cocky. "You always cook like this?"
no subject
Date: 2025-12-07 12:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-12-07 07:46 pm (UTC)"Uh thanks, I got it. You want one too?"
no subject
Date: 2025-12-08 03:17 pm (UTC)Lucina was everything to him, and also a herald of nearly every mistake he's ever made. He can only hope she's not a herald of mistakes to come, as well.
"I'll never say no to a glass of wine," he says. "Pour me one."
no subject
Date: 2025-12-08 04:58 pm (UTC)"I mean, I don't see a ring on your finger."
And he kind of assumed Claurant was not into women.
no subject
Date: 2025-12-09 07:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-12-09 08:07 pm (UTC)"I didn't mean to make this weird....I uh...stick my foot in my mouth a lot."
no subject
Date: 2025-12-10 06:41 pm (UTC)He chuckles, taking a sip of his wine. "Again, it's fine. Though now to make it fair I have to start prying into your love life."
no subject
Date: 2025-12-10 09:08 pm (UTC)"Feel free to pry but I'll warn you now there's not much to tell." He says with a snort and then takes a large gulp of wine.
no subject
Date: 2025-12-11 12:42 am (UTC)"Oh, I'm prying." Claurant gives him a devilish grin before he returns to the stove to finish off the gravy, stirring animatedly while he talks. "You're far from ugly, Richard, and there's a soul for every hole so to speak, so I expect someone took interest at some point. Yes?"
no subject
Date: 2025-12-11 06:17 am (UTC)"And yes, at points in my life people have taken enough interest that I'm not standing here a 42 year old virgin. Thank god."
"But it's not like I have a line up out the door like you probably do."
no subject
Date: 2025-12-11 09:00 pm (UTC)"Oh, you flatter me," he says at the line comment, circling his way back to Richard's previous statement. "But see what I mean. There's interest out there, you just have to find it, darling. Or let it find you. Trouble loves walking in through an open door."
no subject
Date: 2025-12-12 06:49 am (UTC)"I don't have big bulging muscles or rugged good looks." He takes another gulp of wine and snorts.
"And I'm too old and fat to be a twink so that basically leaves me in the 'undesireable' bin."
no subject
Date: 2025-12-12 02:51 pm (UTC)"Perhaps not to the masses, but when have the masses been correct about anything, Richard? Ignore them. If they don't want you, you have to prove to them how much of a loss that is. Which, I wholeheartedly believe you can do."
no subject
Date: 2025-12-15 01:55 am (UTC)He snorts again and finishes off his glass of wine, reaching around Claurant to pour himself more. "It doesn't matter if the masses are correct or not, it's simple math. If 99% of people find you undesirable then 99% of people aren't going to fuck you."
He shrugs, "It's just the way the world works and no amount of me proving anything will change it."
no subject
Date: 2025-12-15 08:03 pm (UTC)Perhaps Claurant's had it terribly easy in comparison, when it comes to his dalliances. He may not be the proper person to empathize with Richard's predicament, as he's not exactly seeing what Richard is. Claurant can see the off-beat charm in him, anyway, or perhaps he's easy to please.
"99%, I think, is an over-exaggeration. But I can't really fault anyone for being dramatic, now can I?"
no subject
Date: 2025-12-16 06:57 pm (UTC)In all honesty it's Richard who looks like a Dad.
"And I guess not, seeing how you have a flair for the dramatics yourself."
no subject
Date: 2025-12-17 11:31 am (UTC)He catches a glimpse of himself in the reflective handle on the pan, smirking at Richard's remark. He does look good for his age. Given his lifestyle, he really shouldn't, but his father also looked absurdly, oddly young for his age. Maybe it was whatever strange, eldritch thing flowed through them, the blood of ancients keeping them younger and healthier than they ever really should be.
He's not going to delve into that, however. Not over dinner, not to Richard (now, anyway).
"Well, if it helps any, I thought you were younger than I was until you mentioned your age." Claurant sets about plating their dinner, since it's just about done.
"A flair for dramatics may as well be my middle name. Come, sit, I'm almost done."
no subject
Date: 2025-12-18 03:30 am (UTC)"Bullshit you did." Richard says with an eyeroll because there's no way that is true, he looks his age if not older depending on how shitty he is feeling.
"Kay." He says and then motions towards what he thinks is the dinning room, "Just in here?"
no subject
Date: 2025-12-19 01:08 pm (UTC)"There's perfect. I'll join you in a moment!"
And join in a moment he does, bearing two plates to set down wherever Richard decided to sit. When he chooses, Claurant takes the seat across from him, doubling back briefly for his wine.
"Dig in, by all means. It is still hot though, so be careful."
no subject
Date: 2025-12-21 07:09 pm (UTC)"Holy shit, this is really good." He says between bites, "Where did you learn how to cook so well?"
no subject
Date: 2025-12-24 02:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-12-24 09:58 pm (UTC)"Necessity my ass, this is like gourmet shit." If it requires more than two steps Richard doesn't do it so Claurant's cooking seems masterful.
"Do you two take turns cooking then?"
no subject
Date: 2025-12-29 12:49 pm (UTC)"We alternate, yes. It depends mostly on who's home at the time and who feels like cooking, really. I have work and I tend to be out either for that or just... out," he shrugs. He doesn't clarify, because even he acknowledges how awful it sounds to say he leaves his daughter to her own devices so he can party or to sleep. "Or she's at that age where she has her own friends and goes out often. So it varies. She's a better baker than I am, I'll give her that, even if I have a few recipes I'm proud of."
no subject
Date: 2025-12-30 06:23 am (UTC)Richard wouldn't pass judgement on Claurant leaving his daughter alone to cook for herself, he's already proven himself to be 100 times more responsible than Richard by having a kid in the first place.
"What do you do for work?"
no subject
Date: 2025-12-31 01:02 pm (UTC)Yes, the deception is working... continue to believe him to be a responsible man. He loves it.
"I'm a private investigator, actually. More civil cases than criminal ones, but I do get a fair share of criminal cases too. Disappearances, murders, white collar crimes... you name it, I've probably worked it once." He wonders whether or not to mention the book and decides to go for it. "... I've written a novel too. One. I don't entirely plan on publishing another, but it was nice to do."
no subject
Date: 2026-01-02 04:49 am (UTC)"No shit, really? What's it about? A case?"
Don't they say to write what you know?
no subject
Date: 2026-01-03 03:19 pm (UTC)He doesn't tell Richard that the novel's practically an autobiography. He hasn't told anyone. Why would he? They say write what you know indeed, which is why Claurant hasn't been itching to write a second novel. He's told his story. So long as nothing else major happens, he's content with that.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-03 06:27 pm (UTC)His plate practically licked clean he pushes the dish away from him and leans back a little in his seat.
"So how does it end? Does he go mad or does it have a slightly happier ending?"
no subject
Date: 2026-01-03 07:34 pm (UTC)"I went for a bit of both. It ends overall well enough, but the protagonist is forever scarred and it's obvious." Was he predicting his own fate? Perhaps. "My agent said the original ending was a touch too grim."
He inclines his head towards the empty plate, still wringing his hands about each other. "I can fetch seconds for you if you want."
no subject
Date: 2026-01-06 06:51 am (UTC)"No thanks, any more and I'll have to unbutton my pants and you probably don't want to see that."
no subject
Date: 2026-01-09 08:06 pm (UTC)The feeling's gone near immediately. Claurant regretting things is one thing, Claurant regretting an overtly flirtatious comment is almost unheard of.
"Well, you've never told me what you do. We can't just talk about me all the time, can we?"
no subject
Date: 2026-01-10 03:45 am (UTC)"Do? You mean like career wise? Nothing." He says with a grimace, "I work shitty jobs when I have to."
no subject
Date: 2026-01-10 10:42 pm (UTC)"Isn't that technically a career? Freelancing?" Claurant says, wondering if he misinterpreted him. "Some people do that. Who am I to judge you, honestly?"
no subject
Date: 2026-01-11 06:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-01-12 07:38 pm (UTC)for @superjournalist (tfln drinks continued)
Date: 2025-12-22 05:08 am (UTC)Richard honestly still doesn't know how or why Lois has agreed to go out for drinks with him but he isn't about to ask in case it fucks everything up, he rarely has anyone let alone anyone as gorgeous as her saying yes to such things so instead he just shows up at the Two Parrots a few mins after 8pm wearing what he hopes is casual but suitable attire for such a date.
I mean, if it is a date.
He's really not sure if it is or not, he hopes it is and he tells his heart to stop beating so hard when he sees Lois sitting at a little table near the back.
"Uh hey." He says once he is close enough that she looks up. "You been waiting long?"
no subject
Date: 2025-12-22 02:53 pm (UTC)She’s wearing what she wore to work that day, a white shirt with black pants and a black vest and her chunky loafers. When he approaches, she looks up at him from her bottle of beer.
“Hey. Not too long.” Lois smiles at him. “Nice jacket.”
no subject
Date: 2025-12-22 07:07 pm (UTC)He slides into the booth across from her, nodding at the beer.
"Good choice of beer, I went to their brewery last month."
no subject
Date: 2025-12-23 01:13 am (UTC)“Yeah?” she asks. “I’ve actually wanted to go, but haven’t had a chance to yet. Work’s been busy.”
Fortunately, she likes what she does, so being busy isn’t the worst thing in the world.
no subject
Date: 2025-12-23 01:24 am (UTC)"Chasing down leads, uncovering horrible secrets and the like? What are you currently working on?"
no subject
Date: 2025-12-23 01:30 am (UTC)“I’m looking into the unsolved murder of a gas station owner from three years ago. The police think it was a robbery gone wrong, but I’ve uncovered some things that are making me think differently.”
no subject
Date: 2025-12-23 03:47 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-12-23 03:16 pm (UTC)Things that don’t add up.
no subject
Date: 2025-12-24 05:02 am (UTC)"You ever read any of those? Or were you too busy cracking skulls in mosh pits?"
no subject
Date: 2025-12-25 05:14 pm (UTC)Lois didn’t like the social aspects of school, but she was a good student, especially in English class.
“I was always very polite in mosh pits, thank you very much.”
no subject
Date: 2025-12-26 11:26 pm (UTC)"What kind of books do you usually read?"
no subject
Date: 2025-12-27 02:41 am (UTC)“Fiction or non-fiction? I read a lot of non-fiction books by journalists who have invested various topics or incidents. On the fiction side, mostly mysteries. What about you?”
no subject
Date: 2025-12-27 03:26 am (UTC)"I love a good mystery, or any kind of dumb pulp fiction thing. Especially if it's got some raunchy sex in it."
no subject
Date: 2025-12-27 03:32 am (UTC)“Why do you think you’re an asshole?” she asks. He’s been pretty nice so far, raunchy sex mentions aside.
no subject
Date: 2025-12-27 04:11 am (UTC)The sudden question causes him to blink in surprise and shrug again.
"Because I've been told I am one? I'm rude, blunt, have no class. The list of my shortcomings goes on and on."
no subject
Date: 2025-12-28 01:03 am (UTC)Lois takes a sip of beer before continuing. “And I’ve been told that I’m a bitch, but I don’t think that I am, most of the time.” She can’t say never. “Do you think that you act like an asshole?”
no subject
Date: 2025-12-28 06:21 am (UTC)Another pause as he thinks about her question.
"Yeah. I think I can be. My mouth kind of has a mind of its own and I sometimes say shit I shouldn't or without thinking. And that hurts people."
no subject
Date: 2025-12-29 02:09 am (UTC)Speaking without thinking… he can work on that.
no subject
Date: 2025-12-29 02:43 am (UTC)"I mean unless someone is a dick to me first, then yeah. I might say shit to hurt them."
no subject
Date: 2025-12-29 02:50 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-12-29 03:01 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-12-30 01:41 am (UTC)She really does. Lois finds it difficult to trust most people, and she will never just blindly accept something.
“What other shortcomings do you have?”
no subject
Date: 2025-12-30 02:49 am (UTC)"Wow, uh okay. I can't hold down a job, I don't have any ambition, uhhh.... I've got a really hairy chest and ass?"
no subject
Date: 2025-12-31 01:51 am (UTC)The first two faults are a lot more problematic than the last two. “If you’re not working, then what do you do all day?” Lois asks.
no subject
Date: 2025-12-31 07:17 am (UTC)A pause and because it's him he has to add.
"Masturbate."
no subject
Date: 2026-01-01 03:03 am (UTC)Because shit certainly ain’t free.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-02 02:27 am (UTC)"No, she's back in Canada." Which is where he's from originally.
"And I pay for shit by doing a lot of odd jobs."
no subject
Date: 2026-01-02 02:55 am (UTC)“I should know by now not to ask,” she replies. “What kind of odd jobs?” Lois puts a hand up. “If the odd jobs involve OnlyFans or something, please spare me those details.”
no subject
Date: 2026-01-02 03:10 am (UTC)"Fuck no! No one would pay me for that kind of stuff."
He leans forward enough to signal to the bartender that they want another round.
"Let's see....I was a security guard at an empty parking lot for a while. That was pretty odd."
no subject
Date: 2026-01-02 03:36 am (UTC)Their next round of beers come out and Lois takes a sip of hers.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-02 03:55 am (UTC)"I missed a couple of shifts in a row and they fired me."
no subject
Date: 2026-01-02 04:20 am (UTC)She leans back against the booth, appraising him for a moment. “I’ve asked enough questions.” If she digs any more, whatever she uncovers probably won’t endear him any further to her. “Do you have any questions for me?”
no subject
Date: 2026-01-02 04:35 am (UTC)Her sudden shift makes him blink and he takes a second, looking at her quietly for a moment before speaking.
"Do you ever get scared? Like real, full on terrified?"
no subject
Date: 2026-01-03 02:15 am (UTC)“I have been, a few times when working on stories. You don’t expose corruption without making the people that are doing the corrupting pissed off. I’ve received threats before.”
no subject
Date: 2026-01-03 08:34 am (UTC)"How do you get past it?"
no subject
Date: 2026-01-04 02:58 am (UTC)“I tell myself that I’m doing my job to help people tell their stories to the world. To hopefully help them get justice. I turn threats over to the police. I’ve learned self-defense. I keep a bat by my front door. I tell myself that the discomfort and fear is temporary, that it will be worth it in the end.”
no subject
Date: 2026-01-04 11:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-01-05 03:00 am (UTC)She sips her beer. “I thought about it. I know how to shoot. That doesn’t mean that I like guns though, and I’d rather not have one in my house unless some psychopath decides to take one of my articles really personally. Then I’ll have to rethink my decision to just rely on the bat and my fists.”
no subject
Date: 2026-01-05 03:26 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-01-05 03:48 am (UTC)It was pretty obvious during their sexting that he likes her dominant personality. Lois has no problem leaning into that with him.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-05 04:19 am (UTC)"Yeah, guilty as charged on both accounts."
He lifts his eyes to meet hers.
"I think you like that as well though."
no subject
Date: 2026-01-06 02:24 am (UTC)“I do,” she confirms. “You were going to tell me about the best concert you ever went to.”
That was one of the things they had decided they would talk about when he asked her for drinks.
ooc: his laugh really is like a big giggle XD
Date: 2026-01-06 04:23 am (UTC)"I've seen a ton of really good ones, but probably one of the best was Siouxsie and the Banshees. They almost never tour in Canada and it was in a medium sized venue so I could get really close to the stage."
he’s adorable
Date: 2026-01-07 01:52 am (UTC)Lois groans. “I’m so jealous! I never got to see them perform, though I’ve seen Siouxsie on her own a few times. She’s so cool.”
He is 💙 and such a dork
Date: 2026-01-07 04:23 am (UTC)Which means she has great taste.
"Another great one was when I saw Peaches in this tiny dive bar, she poured a beer on my head during it. It was great!"
no subject
Date: 2026-01-08 01:51 am (UTC)“It took balls for you to ask me here tonight.” Honestly, Lois wasn’t sure if Richard had it in him.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-08 02:50 am (UTC)"Yeah well, you kind of made it easy what with being so cool and everything."
no subject
Date: 2026-01-08 03:03 am (UTC)She looks up again and notices the blushing, but doesn’t make fun of him. He seems to genuinely like her, and she’s not the sort to take advantage of someone like that — at least not seriously.
Lois is quiet for another moment before she speaks again.
“Let me be honest with you, Richard. It’s been a while since I’ve had sex. The other night on the phone… I really enjoyed myself. I’m curious to find out if you’re more than just talk.”
no subject
Date: 2026-01-08 04:07 am (UTC)"I'll be honest as well, I haven't had sex in a while either and if you want to satiate that curiousity I'm all yours. No strings or expectations."
A beat and then he grins at her, "I am all talk though, just not in that way."
Aka he almost never shuts up.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-09 12:59 am (UTC)“Do you talk during sex?” Lois asks.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-09 01:50 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-01-09 02:07 am (UTC)She finishes her beer and puts the glass down on the table.
“Should we get out of here? My place?”
Lois would feel more comfortable at her place. There’s a brief worry that if he comes over he might never leave, but Lois is extremely good at kicking people out if she has to.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-09 02:39 am (UTC)"Fuck YES!"
no subject
Date: 2026-01-09 02:46 am (UTC)After closing out their tabs, the two of them walk to her car and she lets him in to the passenger side.
“If I don’t have anything to gag you with, I guess I could shut you up by sitting on your face,” she says calmly.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-09 03:02 am (UTC)"That might be the only way to actually do it." He says and cheerfully slides into the passenger seat.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-09 03:37 am (UTC)It’s not a long drive, and then Lois is unlocking the door to her apartment so that they can enter. She puts a few lights on. “Sit wherever,” Lois says, indicating the living room couches. “Then we can discuss some ground rules.”
no subject
Date: 2026-01-09 03:45 am (UTC)"Ground rules. Got it." He muses as he takes a seat on the couch.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-10 12:20 am (UTC)“As I said, I’m not looking for a relationship. Therefore, anything between us…” Lois wags her pointer finger in the air between the two of them. “Is not a relationship. I’m not your girlfriend. We do not have to go on dates. I’ll spend time with you as a friend, but we are not together. Any questions so far?”
She’s blunt. Better to just lay everything out on the table before things get complicated and feelings get hurt.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-10 12:32 am (UTC)"No questions so far."
no subject
Date: 2026-01-10 12:47 am (UTC)I don’t care if you spend the night after we have sex, but you’re leaving the next morning. You’re not moving in.”
Boundaries. Lois isn’t here to feed and entertain him. Again… not a relationship. No obligations on either of their parts.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-10 01:00 am (UTC)He says in a shocking display of maturity and responsible thinking. She isn't his girlfriend but she's a friend and he's not going to put her health and comfort on the line.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-10 01:29 am (UTC)She’s quiet for a moment as she thinks. “That’s it for now, I think. Anything you want or think I should know?”
no subject
Date: 2026-01-10 01:39 am (UTC)"Hrmmmmm...." He hums and then looks at her with a sweet smile.
"Just that you're hot as hell and twice as cool."
no subject
Date: 2026-01-10 01:58 am (UTC)She stands up. “You think about it for a few minutes. I’ll be right back. Do you want anything? Something to drink?”
After giving Richard a drink if he wants one, Lois disappears into her bedroom to change and pull the box of condoms out of her drawer. She tosses them on the bed, presuming that she and him will end up there eventually. Ultimately, she decides to take a few with her when she emerges from her room.
“You know, it actually is a sexy look.”
Lois is wearing the outfit from their sexting the other night: her Ramones shirt with no bra underneath, a pair of panties, and her Doc Martens. Her long, dark hair cascades down over her shoulders.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-10 03:26 am (UTC)"Huhn?" Turning to see what she's talking about he freezes when he sees her, his eyes going wide as they take in her body and outfit and he only snaps out of it when the beer he was about to drink sloshes onto his face.
"holy FUCK!" He barks and wipes at his mouth, his eyes sliding up and down her body appreciatively. "I mean...damnit! You did that on purpose!!" He accuses her with a laugh.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-10 11:05 am (UTC)She lets him take her all in for a moment, then sits down on the couch where he had been sitting previously. Lois puts the condoms on the coffee table. “Come here.” Richard is the type of man who responds to commands, so she’ll happily give him some. “Join me.”
no subject
Date: 2026-01-10 07:49 pm (UTC)"You look incredible." He says, one of his hands moving to slip up her combat boot and onto her leg.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-11 01:26 am (UTC)“Thanks,” Lois replies. “You don’t have to stay on the floor if you don’t want to.”
She pats the couch cushion next to her.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-11 02:18 am (UTC)"I mean I kind of want to because you've got dynamite legs but I also want to kiss you so...." He says with a grin and leans in to nuzzle her neck a little.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-11 02:40 am (UTC)“I think you should.”
Let him make the move. Lois tilts her neck so that he can nuzzle it and runs a hand through his hair.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-11 03:44 am (UTC)"You smell really good." He murmurs against her skin, his voice dropping lower and he places a few soft kisses on her pulse before shifting his face up to catch her lips in a slow, soft kiss.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-11 03:58 am (UTC)Her breath catches just before he kisses her. She’s struck by how sweet and soft it is, not crashing his mouth against hers. Still, it isn’t shy either.
Maybe she’s underestimated him.
Lois opens her mouth slightly against his as she twists her fingers in his shirt.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-11 04:16 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-01-11 04:28 am (UTC)Eventually, she needs more air and she breaks the kiss, though she doesn’t go far. “Mmm,” she murmurs against his mouth. “I like that.”
no subject
Date: 2026-01-11 05:21 am (UTC)"Yeah? Good." He says, his voice low and gruff and he nudges the tip of his nose against hers in a little nose rub.
"I like it too. A lot."
no subject
Date: 2026-01-11 12:19 pm (UTC)“Oh. I want to mention that you have my consent to touch me anywhere. If I don’t like something, I’ll tell you to stop.”
With that out of the way, Lois cups his rough cheek and leans back in, this time sucking his lower lip into her mouth.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-12 07:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-01-13 02:19 am (UTC)It’s on the tip of her tongue to give him some instructions, but Lois holds back for now. She wants to see what he does instinctively.
for @soicantlose (tfln continued)
Date: 2026-01-02 05:13 pm (UTC)[Richard shrugs off the old beaten up leather bomber jacket he's wearing and hangs it up before standing in the kitchen archway to watch Richard work in the kitchen.]
Do you always leave your doors unlocked? That's a good way to killed you know.
for @superjournalist (tfln jail continued)
Date: 2026-01-08 02:44 am (UTC)Just the satisfaction in knowing I'm making this up to you.
They don't usually but you'd be surprised at how forgetful cops can be when dealing with a naked guy, they didn't notice that I snuck my cellphone.
thanks for moving us
Date: 2026-01-08 02:52 am (UTC)I don’t even want to know where the phone was.
Do I need to bring you some clothes?
No problem :)
Date: 2026-01-08 03:49 am (UTC)Hahaha! Don't worry, it wasn't up my ass.
Nah, they've given me some shit from the lost and found.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-09 12:23 am (UTC)As long as you’re dressed, I guess.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-09 01:48 am (UTC)But I'll happily have an orgasm.
I'm not dressed WELL but I am dressed.
See you soon?
no subject
Date: 2026-01-09 02:01 am (UTC)Yeah. See you soon.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-09 02:33 am (UTC)[After Lois has arrived and dealt with the bail she is instructed to sit and wait on a row of plastic seats while they go get Richard.
When he emerges from the back room he is dressed in a mismatched sweatpants set, his hair tousled and eyes tired, although they light up a bit when he sees Lois.]
Hey.
[He says with a guilty grin.]
Thanks.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-09 02:39 am (UTC)I still don’t understand how this happened. Do you usually take off your clothes when you get drunk?
no subject
Date: 2026-01-09 03:00 am (UTC)When I get normal drunk? No. But when I get blackout drunk? Uh...sometimes. It's happened before back home but the cops were a bit more forgiving.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-09 03:20 am (UTC)Outside, they agree to walk to a nearby ATM so that Richard can take out the money that he owes her.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-09 03:38 am (UTC)Fuck.
How should he answer that? He can't tell her the truth, fuuuck think Richard! Luckily he is able to stall a little while going to the ATM and getting her half the cash he owes, which brings his meagre amount to about $500 but that's for him to worry about later right now he has to answer her question.
"I had a really bad panic attack last night." He says as he hands over the cash. "And I thought drinking would calm me down."
no subject
Date: 2026-01-10 12:13 am (UTC)“I don’t think alcohol helps with that,” she replies. “I guess you don’t have medication for it?”
no subject
Date: 2026-01-10 12:21 am (UTC)"No, I might be able to get it back home since we've got free healthcare but I can't afford meds here in the States."
no subject
Date: 2026-01-10 12:40 am (UTC)It clearly wasn’t for a job. Why not just go back?
no subject
Date: 2026-01-10 12:42 am (UTC)"Personal reasons."
no subject
Date: 2026-01-10 12:57 am (UTC)It’s actually kind of surprising that she hasn’t run his name yet.
“Maybe you should consider getting blackout drunk at home next time.”
no subject
Date: 2026-01-10 01:10 am (UTC)"I usually try to." He says and groans, holding his head for a moment.
"Fuck I feel like garbage, guess I look it too huhn?"
no subject
Date: 2026-01-10 01:31 am (UTC)“You kind of do,” Lois says. “I can drive you home if you want.”
no subject
Date: 2026-01-10 01:43 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-01-10 02:01 am (UTC)They get in and Lois starts towards a diner she knows that is relatively inexpensive.
“I’m sorry you had such a shitty night.”
no subject
Date: 2026-01-10 03:15 am (UTC)"Well I'm sorry I kind of ruined your morning."
no subject
Date: 2026-01-10 11:11 am (UTC)She could use some coffee, actually.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-10 07:10 pm (UTC)"I hope you get paid double for all that."
no subject
Date: 2026-01-11 01:16 am (UTC)“You’re lucky I wasn’t tracking down any leads. Sometimes sources can only meet on the weekends.”
no subject
Date: 2026-01-11 02:11 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-01-11 02:35 am (UTC)Lois turns into a parking lot and parks the car.
“If the source is scared or wants to be kept anonymous, we’ll meet someplace more private.”
no subject
Date: 2026-01-11 03:46 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-01-11 04:06 am (UTC)Inside, the diner is standard fare. A counter. A row of booths. Nothing fancy. But the coffee is decent and the food is good. A number of the waitresses say hi to her, which shows how often she’s here. Sometimes she comes alone to write.
Lois and Richard sit down across from each other in a booth. After ordering some coffee, she studies him.
“How many times have you been arrested?”
no subject
Date: 2026-01-11 04:20 am (UTC)"What?" He asks and then rubs a hand over his weary face. "Oh. A couple of times, all for stupid shit."
no subject
Date: 2026-01-11 04:34 am (UTC)He looks hungover and exhausted. A little piece of her that cares about him feels bad.
“Are you okay?” Lois asks quietly.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-11 04:49 am (UTC)"Do you get a bit of a pass on stuff like that because you're doing it for work?"
He looks up into her face and tries to give her an encouraging smile.
"Yeah, I am. Just exhausted and sore, I slept a bit on a cell bench so my neck is all fucked up."
no subject
Date: 2026-01-11 12:28 pm (UTC)Their coffee comes and Lois unloads at least 5 packets of sugar into hers.
“Yeah, that’ll do it. I remember when I used to be able to sleep on a floor with no problems. Now? My back will be messed up for days. Getting older is great.”
no subject
Date: 2026-01-11 06:18 pm (UTC)It's a little joke which means he must not be feeling like total death, although really it would take him dying to not make jokes.
"I know chicks hate this question, but how old are you?"
no subject
Date: 2026-01-12 01:19 am (UTC)Lois smirks at him. “You know what ‘chicks’ hate more than being asked their age? Being referred to as ‘chicks’.” She takes another sip. “I already told you though. 35.”
no subject
Date: 2026-01-12 09:19 am (UTC)"And I'm sure you did but my brain is barely working." He says and takes a long sip of his black coffee. "I barely remember my own fucking age right now."
no subject
Date: 2026-01-13 02:04 am (UTC)The waitress returns and Lois orders some pancakes, because why fucking not?
“42, right?” She asks Richard after the waitress leaves. “Why’d you ask my age?”
no subject
Date: 2026-01-13 04:07 am (UTC)Richard meanwhile orders some bacon and toast.
"Yeah 42, and mostly just to make sure I don't have to mock you for calling yourself old. I hate it when 20 somethings are like 'omg I'm sooooo old now'."