culero | IC CONTACT

[Well, at least one of them has a nice positive outlook on the whole situation. Jackie finds it endearing, and is quick to find a seat for the both of them. The bar's menu is entirely digital, so he suspects Constantin might need a hand with it once it comes time to order. Although, it's entirely self explanatory with an easy to follow UI so maybe he'll be fine? Jackie's ready to help if he needs to.]

I think you might be more fun than the alcohol.

[Jackie makes himself as comfortable as he can in the small booth. It would be nice to have more leg space, but they're there to sample the drink, not to lounge all night.]

So what did you do back where you came from? If you don't mind me asking.

[The art of scrolling on arcane digital interfaces is luckily the one thing Constantin has mastered, besides pressing 1, but if he orders a few errant cocktails because he taps too enthusiastically in the wrong spots, well, they'll find out. Surely it will be fine. He takes to scrolling up and down said menu once he's settled in the booth himself, only briefly distracted by it before he looks up again.

Oh--]

I— am the new governor of New Serene. The city is my beating heart, and so on and so forth, but ultimately taking care of her is mostly paperwork. Occasionally, I listen to men who think me an idiot attempt to divert the city's resources for their own gain.

[And then they leave, and he gets to do the real work again. Yaaay.]

What do you do?

[Oh. A governor?

If Jackie suddenly seems overly interested in the choice of drinks and finger foods it's because he hadn't expected anything like that. Constantin was dressed rather nicely, even for his time period (the specifics of which are still beyond Jackie). The aversion to the topic he brought up himself was because his own couldn't be more far from that.]

Well, you see. I'm sort of like...Well, it's kind of-- [There's no good way to put it, really. Mercenary sounds too intense, and sell-sword, though probably easy for Constantin to understand doesn't include the complexities of the job--and that sometimes he has to do very illegal shit.]

I take contracts. People pay me to do things that they need done if they can't do it themselves. [Even putting it delicately is a waste of time. People generally see someone Jackie's size and can guess they don't do simple things like mowing lawns or accounting.]

[Oh? There are just enough half-formed sentences there to really pull his attention away from the menu, so while Jackie focuses on it, Constantin focuses on him, curiosity piqued.

But ah, that sounds... not entirely on the level, as it were. He drums his fingers on the edge of the menu display, frowning thoughtfully-- trying to come up with something better to say than Oh! Like crime! That would be untoward at best...]

Well, we are both leading remarkably different lives now that we're here, aren't we?

[He takes another considering pause; they've known each other for, all things considered, no time at all, but Jackie doesn't strike him as someone who is completely morally bankrupt, so--]

What would you like to do, then? Out of anything in the world.

[Constantin's assessment is correct. His moral compass is very much calibrated to the T. The choices he makes for work are necessary for him to make money and have a semblance of a chance to make it out of the status he was born into. Words he's sure his new friend might understand, but he's not sure he wants to say so aloud.]

Ain't that the truth, amigo.

[Jackie chuckles, shaking his head slowly because he'd had the same thought just the other day. This place is a chance at doing something better with his life, and it's a big decision to make.]

I don't know yet. Been thinking about it, and I never really got the chance to choose before. Maybe a bartender?

[Ah, there-- and it's a sentiment Constantin does understand, the necessity of doing what one must, although his own situation is... markedly different, obviously. And as much as he misses his city, there is a certain appeal in being in this new place and not having to bow under the yoke of his family name, etc, etc.

And it's too much for drinks, so he gives a quick little smile and then looks down at the menu again, eyebrows raised curiously.]

You know how to make some of these concoctions?

[Jackie looks at the drink options, and doesn't recognize a lot of it. They look bright, flashy, and fun, but he doesn't really know what things they use around here.]

Nah, not really. But learning would be interesting. What about you, governor?

[He taps a couple options himself, not sure what he's getting into, but eventually their drinks show up and are placed down in front of them--notably several in front of Constantin.]

Gonna be okay with all that? [Jackie lifts the glass he gets with bright neon coloring, ready to toast to whatever effect it might have on them.]

I have no idea.

[But he will drink at least... the oddest looking one, which for whatever reason is very blue and kind of shiny? It ought to be safe.]

As for me, I've always wanted to be an explorer, actually. And yet, here we are! I will settle for exploring this strange, strange city.

[So, there. He lifts the shiny blue thing.]

Here's to interesting.

An explorer? That's interesting.

[And surprising. Although if he was given a job like governor he might start to feel like getting out and seeing more of the world too. Maybe he shouldn't be so surprised.]

You're off to a goo start so far, my friend. [Jackie takes a sip of his drink and decides right away that it's simultaneously too sweet and too sour. Is that normal? It's not a big glass but he throws it back to drain the entirety of it in one go, reaching across the table for one of Constantin's to try washing down the taste of it.]

The hell is this shit?! Might need to open my own bar if all the drinks taste like that..

My cousin is off exploring constantly, while I— oh, help yourself— while I waste away behind my desk!

[Woe! Woe is Constantin, who sighs in a mostly-exaggerated manner before tipping back about half of the shiny blue cocktail. It's— it sure is, that's the most he can think about it, making a face and blinking rapidly a few times at it. Enh...]

Do yours taste like very sweet paint, too? Wine and ale sound like the drinks of kings all of a sudden.

That doesn't sound like a good deal.

[He's thankful for Constantin's generosity, but also, there's no way the guy could drink all of those on his own and then have space for trying more of the unusual drinks. At least it would be the both of them trying to see what was nice and what isn't.]

No...paint with a splash of lime. I've never wanted a mojito so bad in my life. I think you'd like one of those.

[Can't go wrong with liquor and fresh mint--right? Jackie isn't sure how much bravery he has after two unpleasant experiences and manages to scroll to the bottom where he sees alcohol made from wheats, rices, and grapes. That's already closer than the mixed shit. Jackie orders a bottle of wine for the table in case his willingness to explore doesn't come back.]

[The shiny blue paint drink is terrible, and yet he's still sipping at it like maybe it will get better on subsequent sips - perhaps it's an acquired taste, in the sense that he'll be so put off by the end of it that he'll almost miss it! Maybe!

No, he hates it, he's literally pushing the glass away and picking up one that looks more like a drink he's seen before, or at least a Dark Liquid With Weird Garnish, which surely will contain no glitter or paint taste.]

If you open a bar of your own, I will be first in line to sample anything but these. Cheers.

[He lifts the Dark Liquid, the name of which he'd remember if he'd been aware of ordering it ten minutes ago, and it's... better. Much better than blue paint. He hums and holds the glass up briefly again, as if to indicate that this one is Not Bad(!), then looks down at the menu.]

Any good tavern would have already offered me a hot meal... [is there Food here.] Well, we only had the one tavern on the island, but! Even so.

Gracias, amigo. Your vote of confidence means a lot and I’m excited to not have to subject myself to that ever again.

[Jackie raises his glass up to touch Constantin’s for a deliberate cheers to whatever else they have for the evening being better than their first choices so far. But, in more pertinent matters, his companion seems to be keeping up exceedingly well all things considered. The black drink that comes out looks awful like something that leaked out of an old busted car, but Constantin approves so Jackie doesn’t worry despite his apprehensive expression.]

Not sure they have meals, but there are some side dishes it looks like. [He orders fries, the most benign option—-hopefully.]

Maybe I’ll name the bar: Tavern

You jest, but the tavern in my city is called the Coin Tavern.

[Which is technically because the guard it's primarily for are called the Coin Guard, but it still sounds like "money bar," now that he thinks about it.

He sips more of his car leak drink and scrolls past more food items he has never heard of in his life... Hmm... Well maybe he'll just scroll very quickly and order the first thing his finger lands on-- there, this won't go sideways at all.]

Will you have rough wooden tables and an abundance of mostly-melted candles? I'd love an authentic, homey experience.

Coin Tavern, huh?

[Jackie's brows raise up as his expression goes from amused to intrigued. It would be a pretty unique way to dress up a bar--give it a theme. He rubs his hand over a little stubble starting to make an appearance under his chin in thought, nodding because it sounds gonk enough to work.]

Locals here might find it "unique" and the people from worlds similar to ours would be able to get what we're going for. [That's not a royal we. He's unwittingly roping Constantin into this wild business idea.] Might need you to help me with authenticity, and drink selection and development. [Jackie cants his head to one side as he pours himself and his companion both glasses of wine.]

Interested?

Do I want to commodify and market how out of place I am, for fun? [This is maximum relic, but still,] I may as well. You will need someone to test the precision of the creaking floorboards, at the very least.

[And it's something to think about besides his actual, real job, so the distraction is a solid benefit! Great idea!]

My first suggestion is nothing should glow.

Don't worry. There'll be something in it for you. [Jackie just hasn't put much thought into it since all of this is just now coming to him and he's plotting out loud to see if it sounds good enough for someone to go along with.]

Constantin, the wood creaking whisperer. A title I'm sure you never had before.

[Jackie looks down into his wine glass and nods, glad it's not aglow with some strange artificially flavored substance.] Couldn't agree more, my friend.

[Ah-- pfft, the wood creaking whisperer gets him to laugh, holding up the last dregs of his oily drink to toast to this absurd new "title."]

Constantin d'Orsay, speaker for the lumber! Unique.

[And as much as he has had most of a few drinks already, he can't help but think, how would one go about acquiring a business license in this fair city? Hours of bothering someone down at the Embassy, for a start, to be certain-- but! That's a future business endeavor problem.

Just kidding he's still thinking about it, just in the fun and funny way instead of the paperwork queues way:]

How many hands do you imagine one has to hold to generate adequate funds for stock enough for a proper tavern? A dozen? More?

You'd be an irreplaceable asset to the team. Hypothetical team.

[Although the longer he thinks about it the more he intends to make it a reality. His mother would be proud if she could see him following in her footsteps. He doubts she had to woo anyone to get the funding for her bar though.]

Realistically speaking, it would be more efficient to forgo the handholding for the things that would provide a better return for the time and effort, right? [Jackie is thankful that there's wine because the dark color of Constantin's oily drink is really starting to look less appetizing by the moment.]

Edited 2021-02-16 00:15 (UTC)

[Just pretend his oily drink is really dark blue or something, he'll be done with it soon enough. Then: wine! Nothing can go wrong.]

You don't want to be a man about town, recklessly darting from hand to hand? [haha... anyway,] I suppose it depends on how eager you are to dive into the depths of business.

[Handholding economy is paying for these drinks, as it happens. But, well!]

Still, good point.

[A man about town? Ah, right. He has to recalibrate his thinking back to what society might have been like in Constantin's time. Holding hands (or more) with people one wasn't due to be married to was probably severely frowned upon in some places, and punishable by death in others--hard to guess about that shit so he decides to ask.]

It's not a big deal. You probably won't feel it right away, but more...er...modern people don't have any kind of hang ups with it. Sex is, or can be, a casual interaction. No marriage necessary, and no one would judge anyone for it. No one with any sense.

[Which also begs the question:] You've fucked before, right?

[Oh, handy; he hadn't anticipated much in the way of moral objections in a place telling its new residence they will be paid according to intimacy, but anything less than clandestine is a step up, certainly. Clandestine and mostly began in taverns, ironically enough.

Ah, modern marvels. The possibilities are indeed endless.]

I assure you, no one has worried about the surety of my marriage prospects in some time. But yes, quite— I doubly assure you that I have no qualms about it, personally.

[Like, he doesn't say fuck, but that's because his very worst swear is a well placed "damn," which is a different thing entirely. He sips the wine, gesturing back and forth between them both with an index finger. Now, begging the question part two:]

Is this leading to an offer or neighborly concern?

[Jackie can't help but laugh at the thought of marriage. It seemed like a luxury for the rich at times, and more of a legal matter than anything meaningful. Or maybe his way of thinking is generational? He's unsure, but what he does know is that if people had to be pure of body to marry then it's no wonder less people are bothering with it in 2077.]

Don't worry. I'm not asking for your hand in marriage, but I am interested in this business idea of ours. It's kinda like a marriage, of sorts.

[So hearing that Constantin has no moral objection to it is nice. And by the looks of it being with men doesn't seem to be as much of an issue as Jackie thought it might be. With all the horror stories he's heard about the past maybe he was too quick to judge.]

Depends.. I'm not sure someone like you would be interested in someone like me. In that way. [Constantin can read into that a number of ways, Jackie doesn't bother to clarify his meaning.]

[Constantin raises an eyebrow, making a cursory effort to mentally sift through reasons one might object; obviously not marriage, as no one cares about that— nor being with men, or he wouldn't have brought it up himself. Being a wealthy governor type among not-governor-types? That could do it.

For other people in his high society peer group, anyway, that could do it. He waves a hand, like, never mind whatever it's supposed to be, please. Unless he's missed something, it's a nonissue. And if he has missed something, is it an issue in itself... Never mind.]

Someone like me... Nonsense! With or without business incentives, I would.

[He'll draw up a contract: I, the undersigned, am totally feeling it, as decreed on this the whateverth day of who knows what month, etc, etc. Or just this frank assertion, which is easier and not so embarrassing.]

So! How does that sound?

[It's the latter. While it's not Jackie's business why someone like Constantin might want to slum it with him, the thought did cross his mind. Without being terribly specific he'd let the other man know the sort of work he had to do for a living, and he doesn't need to be from that time to know that a governorship is a very respected position to hold.

Still, Constantin seems genuine. With or without business incentives sounds like someone who is genuinely interested. Jackie clears his throat, bringing wine to his mouth to hide that maybe he's ~~a little bit~~ extremely flattered by that disclaimer.]

Sounds like you could do much better than me. [He starts, but shrugs his shoulders in defeat of himself.] But I'm interested. For business or recreational purposes. [And now that all his cards are on the table he lets himself take in Constantin again, from the color of his deep set eyes to the angle of his cheekbones. It's hard to pinpoint which single feature makes him attractive, but Jackie settles on his lips before remembering not to stare.]

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