Cool story, bro

[Guest]

Asger wasn't drunk, okay? But he was a close, dammit. And as he made his way through a street at night in London. Wait... He WAS in London, right? He stopped suddenly, in his somehow casually worn haori but his sword was not at all on him. Jug in hand. He wasn't drunk and he would swear it. He lifted the jug to his lips as his eyes scanned around him. Yes. London. He was here. And he wasn't home. He sighed slightly as he thought. His home was... Maybe a good mile away. And in his home was the nanny he had to hire, his two sons, and his dog. He closed his eyes as he took in a deep breath. He wasn't drunk... Not yet.

He wasn't one to really do this. He never left his house late at night to wander around London drinking (Something he was sure he shouldn't do) and then wander back. What did he wish to accomplish? He wasn't sure. He wasn't even sure why he left. He wasn't running from anything, he was sure of this. But for some reason he felt horribly stressed lately. He couldn't place it, and he felt he wouldn't so here he was. In the middle of London, not drunk yet. And this seemed like a great time to get food. He took a moment to assess what is around him and made his way for what he knew was around here that would still be open. Fast food was good for something, right?

He stared at the fast food place for what seemed like an eternity. Why he couldn't just go he wasn't sure. Maybe he just didn't want to be seen like this. Maybe he did, though. He kind of felt like he wanted somebody... Anybody to care. But he did nothing. He stood there, frozen in place as he stared down the building before him. He didn't know what to do. So he did nothing. He continued to stare before he took another long drink.

"Just go home, Asger" he told himself in a grumble. But yet he didn't move. About this time he wished he was drunk or something. "You are better than this."

[Guest]

Lili just wanted the world to stop for a short while.

The day was a tiring one. She knew better than to arrange for a magic show in the evening and a kickboxing match in the dead of night, but she was cornered into it; London was a loud, busy place but it wasn't as if it could turn on a dime. It was slow when it came to arranging shows - plan early or not at all was the general rule, and the club she had volunteered to perform at would only take her that day, at that time. To make things far FAR worse, the kickboxing fight was a four-man winner stays on match, one minute rounds, first to last three rounds wins. She won, and with a great deal of ease, but it wasn't without consequence; weariness got the better of her more than once, a large bruise on her cheek and agony whenever her left foot took a step were the punishments.

She didn't even have time to put on some more fitting outfit or casual clothes after either show or fight. Her leotard and fishnets luckily remained undamaged in the fight, so she just put a large coat on and walked outside into the night, limping her way through the darkened streets. Her dark blue gaze locked onto a fast food joint, and on cue her stomach rumbled. "Not my usual fare, but it'll have to do." She murmured, stumbling forward, her weary eyes to the ground. She didn't notice the drunk in the haori until she was a lot closer, far closer than need be, but she didn't change her path, just barging into him and shoving him out of the way with a tired shoulder. She mumbled an incoherant apology that wasn't really meant, unable to care that much. This was a side of her she didn't want anyone to see, but she was too tired to maintain the mask for now. "Just keep walking..." She thought. "- and hope he says nothing."

[Guest]

Being the "Crotchety old man" he was, Asger turned and looked at her and grunted and rolled his eye and took a short swig from his jug before peering into it and sloshing it around as he sighed. People these days were not like how they were but ten years ago. Even ten years before that. It seemed they just got more rude as the decades rolled by. He was almost afraid to see what will be bumping into him when he is 45. He shivered. Oh God. The thought of being 45 almost made him feel ill. Then again, he most likely looked closer to 40 at times than he did 30.

"Guess women are too good for manners these days" he grumbled in a volume that he was sure she would hear him. He looked back at the restaurant and had hopes she would just hobble off somewhere where she can be rude away from. And as he began walking that was when he noticed the tragic part of it all; They were both going to the same place. He rolled his eyes as hed took another long drink as he walked which emptied the neat decorative jug he had. Never time he must refill before leaving the house. He sighed and hooked it back on his belt. That was when he decided to try and be somewhat nice.

"What happened to you?" he asked casually as he crossed his arms. He hoped at home right now that Fin was in bed by now and Benji was... Sedated at least. He didn't want to worry about them but he did. And oddly enough, despite all Benji has done he still trusted him with his son and his self. Then again, he didn't even know the full extent. He looked from the fast food joint hen back at the rude woman. "Not give your escort his money?" he teased with a smirk. He teased people, okay? And the way she dressed seemed far too showy for society. So his mind intantly went to where any parent's mind would go.

[Guest]

"Guess women are too good for manners these days" Lili stopped the moment he said it. "Oh, you couldn't just leave it, could you?" She thought. She knew it was stupid to reply but she wouldn't let it die now. She took a moment to come back into character, coming back to the smug and quiet Lili, Almighty Spark Heart, rather than the lonely and desperate Emily Sly. Her eyes turned back as she shrugged her shoulders.

"Well, sir, it was space you weren't using. You could've moved out of the way." The classic smirk formed in her lips as she locked her dark blue eyes onto his green. He swigged from his bottle, then strapped it to his belt. She resisted the temptation to sigh, slightly jealous now. She could do with a drink right about now.

"What happened to you? Not give your escort his money?" Came the reply, and Lili's eyes widened by a fraction of an inch. She didn't react for a second, but she turned around around. Her fingertips ran together, and the sparks snapped around her hands. It gave a convincing effect of her hand becoming engulfed in electricity, dangerously crackling. She didn't show much anger, still wearing that calm but smug smirk, but as far as she was concerned this guy had just crossed a line. The leotard she wore was admittedly quite revealing but it was special to her; it was the product of her and Emma making her a career together. It was as much a memento of the relationship as it was her favourite stage costume.

"Kickboxing actually." She snarled, a playful danger flowing through her voice. "Three on one. I was the one, and I beat them badly, so if you want to start over and make better words, I'll let you. I've had a bad day. Don't tempt me to make it worse."

[Guest]

Asger watched as she looked at him and shrugged and raised an eyebrows. As she told him he could have moved he grunted. He could have but he would have had to have known she was coming to have even the idea he should move, but honestly he still most likely wouldn't have because there was plenty of room around where he had been standing. As he watched this woman as put his jug back on his belt he couldn't help but wonder is he should feel bad for her or continue being antagonising. He sighed. He apparenlt chose today to care about random strangers who bump into him while looking like she had just a moment ago before recovering a smirk.

He watched as electricity engulfed her hand but looked generally disinterested in the whole affair. He didn't look too much into it and just passed it off as Alchemy, something he wasn't afraid of. He didn't even flinch but showed no signs of returning any sort of aggresion. He just raised an eyebrow and grunted slightly again. She was a slightly amusing female, really. He grinned.

As she talked about kick boxing then proceeded to threaten him he just shrugged, showing his lack of interest in the whole afair. And it didn't appear to be an act of fear at all but an obvious disinterest. He found the concept of fighting her to be a boring idea. He just didn't feel up for a fight with some random beat up looking girl. He was a Royal Guard. He was better than that.

"I won't fight you, calm down" he rolled his eyes as he walked next to her now "how about this, to make up for being a prick I'll buy you something to eat" he grumbled. He didn't seem to enthused but there was certainly a polite gesture in there. So even though he sounded like it was a total drag, it was clear he was willing to do it.

[Guest]

Lili couldn't honestly say that she didn't want to fight; she was more than ready to deliver a beating on this guy, but weariness held her back. "I won't fight you, calm down. How about this, to make up for being a prick I'll buy you something to eat." Something inside of her screamed that she mustn't have the last word, but she just sighed. She couldn't summon the energy to even throw a punch.

"Thanks." Lili mumbled gratefully. She couldn't even bring herself to care about his tone; just the words he said. She grabbed his hand without his permission and shook it. "Lili Sly." Her fingers were lazy in their connection to the man's hands, and she dropped the hand the moment she said her name, choosing instead to limp towards the door of the fast food joint.

"Though please don't badmouth the leotard, or I seriously will put your face to the tarmac. The leotard, it's kind of...
She paused just for a moment. Lili couldn't quite phrase the comfort she had when she wore it; for it's revealingness, it was warm to her, and every time she put it on she felt like she was more than what she was. She couldn't explain it; was it the fact that she associated it with the stage, or was it just memories of Emma? She didn't know, but she at least thought of something to say. "- special to me. She finally got to the door of the fast food joint, and held it open for the man. "After you."

[Guest]

Asger was addmittedly surprised when she touched his hand and shook it and he looked at her for a moment looking rather confused by shook her hand back hesitantly. He then pulled his hand away as she dropped it and put it in his pants pocket and raised an eyebrow. Lili Sly? What a positively odd name. "Asger Roscoe Gerard. Call me Asger or Roscoe" He said, introducing himse as well. He looked back at the door as hey made their way over as he listened to her.

Hearing that the leotard meant something to her he nodded. He could respect that, of course. He was sure he could find something else to playfully teast her about that wasn't her silly attire. When they got to the door he was about to open it for her when she opened it for him. He wasn't sure how to feel about it, part of the gesture was quite nice but another part of him for some reason was offended. But he just pushed it off to the side as he nodded and smiled and stepped inside in front of her.

"Thank you, and I won't badmouth your leotard" he said as he looked back at her. He still felt this awkward tension between them but perhaps that was in his imagination... Either way he was set on the idea of making it up to her because that being polite was just... What a Royal Guard should be! "So are you from here?" he asked casually, trying to keep a conversation going.

[Guest]

As she let Asger by, she considered briefly the name. Asger. Well, he looked Cretan, though it wasn't a name she was used to hearing. Maybe he had foreign blood in his family at some point; might explain the haori. "So are you from here?" And on that subject...

"Not London specifically, but Creta certainly. I just don't feel like going home right now. Performing kind of means that I don't get to stay for long in any one place." She said, hoping that she didn't hint too much to her own past; the point of being a magician is to have a mystery and untouchable quality. To become attracted was to let someone in, and the glass holding the lie up would shatter. So, she compromised. Turn the subject back to him. "What about you? With clothes like that, I'd put you in Aerugo, but your name sounds Amestrian and you're speaking in Cretan. So what's your deal?" Her eyes turned back to him as she joined him in the fast food joint, fighting hard to avoiding simply leaning on him and falling asleep.

[Guest]

"I am from here. Well... Was born here in London, went to Philly for a couple of years to stay with my older brother when I was a teen and came back" Asger replied to her inquiring where he was from. he was used to questions like that. He had a pretty thick London accent and spoke very fluent Cretan since it was his only fluent language. But as far as he is concerned he has always lived in London. He didn't like Philly as much as Benjamin did, or for that matter his brother's little branch of the family.

"Perferming, eh? Kickboxing strictly or other stuff as well? he asked before she spoke again. He wasn't thinking all that much about whether or not what she was saying was a truth or anything. As long as a conversation was going he didn't mind what she was saying. When he first meets people that is just how it is. Conversation is his weapon to keep away the crushing awkward silence. He now moved to alow her to go first with a gesture of his hand to send her forward.

"Ah, I hear that quite a bit. My family is Cretan, Amestrian, and Aerugese. But mostly Cretan. My Great Grandfather was VERY Aurugese, though. And... I just wear this when not wearing my uniform" he shrugged, honestly believing she most likely wouldn't understand either. But he didn't care, really. Trying to make people understand why he wore what he did was most likely like trying to explain why Benjamin wore what he did and why she was wearing a leotard in public. Well he thought. You just... Wear what makes you comfortable and happy. And he just happened to like his haori.

[Guest]

"Performing, eh? Kickboxing strictly or other stuff as well? Lili didn't answer the question for a second, seeing as he let her order first. She asked for a coffee and a cheese and bacon burger, feeling that she needed the energy back. Her eyes turned back to him as she answered her question, allowing her to consider her answer for his.

"Ah, I hear that quite a bit. My family is Cretan, Amestrian, and Aerugese. But mostly Cretan. My Great Grandfather was VERY Aurugese, though. And... I just wear this when not wearing my uniform."

"Reminds you of great grandad? Similar story with this and the tattoo, to be honest." She remarked, snapping the material of the leotard. Lili looked down to her heart tattoo, and smiled a little wider. It was more genuine than her usual, smug smirk, and a little warmer; even when they were apart, Emma somehow always found her way into Lili's thoughts. It was a smile she didn't often realise she was making, but she made no effort to change it. She dug into the pocket of the coat she had lazily hanging around her, looking for a leaftlet that might explain her performances a little bit better. Finally, she found one, and handed it to Asger.

"As for the performances, the kickboxing's more of a side thing and a hobby. This is what I actually do. She said. The leaflet was very short; a simple picture of her minus the jacket around her shoulders, her hat cocked, her smirk impish in nature and her hand engulfed in flame. The caption read; Ladies and Gentlemen, please understand that everything you see is 100% magic. No smoke and mirrors with the Almighty Spark Heart! Lili decided to pre-emt Asger's reaction.

"Before you ask, it's not alchemy, or anything like that. I'm actually magic, though I'm way too tired to bother proving it or anything." On impulse, she gently clicked her fingers, sparks flying off the fingertips.

[Guest]

"Well then I will be sure to not insult them again" Asger nodded as he turned and ordered himself after considering it for a moment. He never oradered much, as he wasn't a very big fan of food like this but right now it sounded pretty damn good. He nodded slightly as he ordered his fries and the lady asked if that was all and he just paid her kindly with a grunted thank you, making it quite obvious he wasn't really a people person. He looked back at Lili just as she pushed a leaflet his way. He grabbed in and turned it in his hands slightly, observing it. Magic, huh? Well, he certainly never believed in anything of the sort so he found himself naturally disinterested. And as he listened to her explain he certainly did feel pretty skeptical but who was he to deny her the thrill of thinking she had gotten another believer. He looked at her from above his sunglasses with his left eye. Looking like he was thinking for a moment before he watched her do her little trick. He didn't know how she did it, addmittedly, but he still didn't believe in it. But he didn't show it on his face.

"Sounds like an interesting carreer, that is for sure. Exactly how DO you do it?" he asked, sounding interested. He looked back down at the leaflet as he read over the caption a couple of times. The Almighty Spark Heart, eh? No smoke and mirrors... Hmmm. He was interested actually. Not in the idea that it was real, but the idea that it was unknown. And nothing grabbed attention like the unknown. Not magic, but quite the nifty little trick, that was for sure.

"Seems like something that is interesting to watch" he shrugged. Well, he was being honest. Wasn't really something he would get into watching but he could see why it grabbed peoples attention. A magician for them to pick apart and figure out, which is why adults really even bothered with magic these days. To figure it out. Having lost the ability to just sit back and be amazed a long time ago.

[Guest]

"Sounds like an interesting career, that is for sure. Exactly how DO you do it?" Asger's voice rang slowly as Lili's thoughts drifted back to the diner. She sighed wearily. She felt like going to sleep there and then, but her courtesy held her head up. "Seems like something that is interesting to watch." She shrugged her shoulders as a reply, and begun to speak again.

"It's my life, pretty much, though I preferred it before my..." She stopped. Her weariness was slipping in again, causing her to make mistakes, open up cracks in the barricades that shrouded her. And, of course, it was Emma. It was always thoughts of Emma that made her open up slightly. And yet, she couldn't force herself to lie. She remained silent for a lot longer than she thought she had, well into ten seconds, before she forced her eyes closed, dispelling the tears that were beginning to form before answering with her own half-truth. "- well, relationship issues, I suppose you could call it." Her tone was quite vague, neither hinting at the nature of what happened or her own feelings of it, and she hoped that the pause would go unnoticed. To be on the safe side, she changed the subject back, peering into Asger's eyes as they peeked over the edge of his glasses, and away again. "... but yeah, the shows. I love doing them, can't imagine doing anything else, and people like it fine enough. You should come along to one. Makes up for bumping into you."

[Shula Brighton]

{BUMP}

[Guest]

Asger watched her as she seemed to be pretty damn tired which was something he expected from somebody who just got done kickboxing. Food was finally given and he gave her a wave forward to suggest her going first. He was a gentleman, after all.

"Well, it sounds like you lead an interesting life, ma'am" he chuckled lightly as he ate a fry or two. He hadn't realized how hungry he was until he had food and suddenly he felt the hungry pull at his stomach and he just seemed to shrug it off. This should hold him off until he got hom. He He could always make something there. Or decide he couldn't make anything and eat the junk food he had to stock up on to make the teenager in the house happy. Damn teenagers. Them and their junk food. Not paying attention to the fact he was eating it now.

"Relationship issues, is it? That happens, unfortunately. Quite the shame" He nodded. He knew how that was as he has his own set of issues with his ex-wife but it was possibly very different but he did not know her issues so all he could do was assume it was umpleasant from her reactions. "After this you should most likely make your way to the hotel or whatever you are staying at. You look a bit tired" he added, trying to make it as polite sounding as he could.

[Guest]

Lili eventually received her burger at the same time as Asger and she wolfed into it. Her hunger and need for energy forced her into an eating frenzy, desperate for something to survive on. She already felt her energy return as she chewed on the burger, before she heard him speak again. "After this you should most likely make your way to the hotel or whatever you are staying at. You look a bit tired" She laughed at this statement.

"You sound like a cop, dude. Besides, you're just as tired as me, I can tell..." She began, before her head leaned forward. She held it there for a second, a great heaviness hanging over her before she smiled to him again. "Ok, maybe I am more tired than you, but..." She stopped, before shrugging her shoulders. "- I dunno. You're probably right. Though I've spoken too much. You've heard about the magic and the kickboxing, so what about you? What brings a man in a haori to a fast food joint talking to a magician?"

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