(no subject)

[everymonstrousthing]

It's late. It's very, very late. And he has no idea what he's doing. He has no idea what he's doing.

He's not drunk - a little, maybe, but not enough to actually blame it. He's been at the club all day, finishing repairing the damage that he'd wrought with his cane. He'd thought about going home, but his apartment doesn't feel like home anymore, because home was on the tenth floor, with windows that opened onto the roof.

And what he is is lonely. And he's found something for that - not a cure. But a distraction.

And maybe it isn't fair. But what about life is?

He knocks on Jesper's door and then leans against the wall and waits.

Comments

[materialnik]

Jesper's not asleep. He's on his couch, drinking and texting frantically. He owes money because it's a day of the week ending in Y and keeps having to remind someone from the Pachinko parlor that he'll get his monthly allowance soon. That's always how it goes.

Hearing a knock on the door, Jesper startles and fears for a second that there might be a Seo just outside his door before he realizes that's not likely at all.

Peering through the spyhole in his door, Jesper is almost as startled anyway.

"Kaz?"

[everymonstrousthing]

"Unless you know the other man with this face," says Kaz, smirking. "And, even if you did, I doubt you'd confuse the two of us to look at."

He's pretty sure that Jesper knows him by heart.

[materialnik]

"Just what the world needs. Two of you," Jesper says. He steps back, rubbing a hand over his face.

"I'll make you a drink."

[everymonstrousthing]

"Did I wake you?" asks Kaz, shrugging out of his coat. Underneath, he's wearing a henley and jeans, his gloves, his boots. He peels his gloves off and sits down, pushing his sleeves up towards his elbows.

He doesn't thank Jesper, but he does nod.

[materialnik]

Jesper shakes his head before going into the kitchen. "Sweet and strong or obviously strong?" he asks, trying not to look at Kaz so obviously with his simple clothes and his bare hands.

[everymonstrousthing]

He's aware of the weight of Jesper's eyes on him, finds that he doesn't mind it. He thinks over for a moment.

"Sweet and strong," he says.

[materialnik]

"Don't say I didn't warn you," Jesper says, the same disclaimer as last time. Juggling the cups and bottles a little more than is necessary, showing off, Jesper makes a brief entertainment out of making a high alcohol confection of tequila, schnapps, and fruit nectars.

[everymonstrousthing]

Kaz makes himself comfortable, leaning back in his chair and watching Jesper as he works. He tilts his head on one side. "You're good at that."

[materialnik]

Jesper laughs and serves up the drink. "I'd say it keeps me out of trouble, but we both know that's a lie," he says, dropping into the chair opposite Kaz.

[everymonstrousthing]

"We do know that," says Kaz, taking a sip of his drink, raising his eyebrows in approval. "I've been at the club for most of today."

[materialnik]

"Going to get it back on track then?" Jesper asks. He's hopeful that Kaz will; the new Crow Club at least evokes a place he knows. It's not their home in the Barrel but at least it'll have some of the same spirit. "Let me have a drink now and then?"

[everymonstrousthing]

"Are you going to be able to pay for it?" asks Kaz, raising his eyebrows but he does smile, too. "It's more or less ready. Should be able to open next week."

[materialnik]

"After all the drinks I've made for you, don't I get one freebie?" Of course he doesn't. Kaz is a smart leader and he's, foremost, a businessman. Giving away drinks to friends is not good business.

[everymonstrousthing]

"You could always just stop making me drinks," says Kaz, smirking against the rim of his glass. "If you're worried."

[materialnik]

Jesper laughs and toasts Kaz with his own drink. "And then accuse me of being inhospitable? Isn't there some god or saint that stands against that?"

[everymonstrousthing]

"I am not the person to ask," says Kaz, smirking. "Never did care enough about what the Saints or the gods think about me."

[materialnik]

"That's because you do your best to convince everyone that you're a god already." Jesper drains half of his glass and waits for it to hit him, the oblivion that sends some of the edge and fear away and makes them more certain of themselves.

[everymonstrousthing]

"You don't think I am?" Kaz grins, crooked, tilts his head before he takes another sip of the drink. They both know why he's here, but neither of them are going to be the one who says it.

[materialnik]

"I think you do an excellent job at being a demon. And sometimes you scare the shit out of me," Jesper says. He swirls the drink in his glass, watching Kaz sidelong.

"So besides strong drinks and poor conversation, what can I do for you?"

[everymonstrousthing]

And this is the edge, isn't it? This is where he's teetering. He knocks back a large gulp of the drink.

"Was hoping you'd let me stay."

[materialnik]

"When have I ever denied you anything?" Jesper says because it's the truth. He knows that it's a dangerous thing to say but Kaz will find a way to get his end no matter what.

[everymonstrousthing]

"It's a good point," says Kaz. He raises his glass in a lazy toast. "But you can say no, Jes. I'm not in the business of forcing my attentions."

[materialnik]

He knows that but it doesn't change Jesper's own problematic level of devotion. "Is that why you want to stay over?" When he asks it, Jesper tries to be casual but fails to hide the eagerness in his eyes.

[everymonstrousthing]

Kaz's weighs it up - how little he wants to be beholden to someone versus the look in Jesper's eye and how much he wants, just then. He nods.

[materialnik]

"I was going to order food. If you're hungry." He hasn't eaten since morning, too caught up in the games and then the paying of debts but he can put that aside if Kaz wants him now. If he doesn't then they have a convenient buffer.