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[acaseofyou]

they say that death is a tragedy it comes once, and it's over

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[noreasonneeded]

Yeah, it was back in my lieutenant days. There was a surprise raid while drinking was going on, had to make a hasty exit. I made it out but it's not a situation I'd care to repeat.

What, like letting people see me wandering around in sweatpants? Not really the image I want to project.

[acaseofyou]

Surprise raids are the worst kinds. But I'm glad you got out of it at least relatively unscathed.

Who says anyone will see you? You can change back into your damp dress pants before you leave the basement.

[noreasonneeded]

You and I both.

I sense some judgment in that tone. Though yeah. I suppose I could leave a pair of sweats with you if you really wanted to see me in them.

[acaseofyou]

No judgement! Just... Offering you an option for your basement hours. And I do like the idea of seeing you in sweatpants, Casual Kaz.

[noreasonneeded]

As long as you don't expect me to suddenly be relaxed in them. I draw the line at slacking.

[acaseofyou]

I would never expect you to relax, Kaz. Wouldn't know what to do with you if you weren't tense.

[noreasonneeded]

I prefer to think of myself as always prepared, that sounds better.

[acaseofyou]

Being tense is part of your prep work, obviously.

[noreasonneeded]

Intense, perhaps. Simply saying tense makes me think of a frazzled ball of nerves, and I'm really not that.

[acaseofyou]

No, I wouldn't call you a frazzled ball of nerves. Though I do worry sometimes about how much you're clenching your jaw when I'm not around.

[noreasonneeded]

I promise I haven't broken any teeth.

Would it make you feel better if I brought some sweats to your room now?

[acaseofyou]

Oh, good. You need those.

It might, yes. Definitely worth trying.

[noreasonneeded]

I do, I hate going to the dentist. But I'm not quite ready to knock out all my teeth for dentures.

Need anything else on my way?

[acaseofyou]

Can't imagine there are many that enjoy going to the dentist. One of the benefits of being undead is not needing one.

Just yourself. I'm easy to please.

[noreasonneeded]

Yeah, yeah, brag away. I have a tedious appointment every six months to keep up with your pearly whites.

[He jokes and teases, though dental visits for him have an added difficulty. He's learned how to navigate the world with his difficulties, though.]

Mmm. You're stubborn, but I would say that you aren't obscenely hard to please.

[acaseofyou]

At least they can get you high for a little while. Think of it like a set appointment for laughing gas.

What about you? Should I set something up in the basement to make it more to your liking?

[noreasonneeded]

I don't think they use that much these days, or at least not for routine procedures. I've never been gassed at the dentist.

Nah. I'm also low maintenance, I think.

[acaseofyou]

Well that's a shame. Used to be my favorite part.

Still like to maintain you, though.

[noreasonneeded]

They give out free toothbrushes and floss afterwards. So, there is that.

[He is an extremely big fan of free goods.]

Good to know. I'm sure you'd tell me if I ever got complicated to handle.

Be down in a minute.

[And he is, indeed, knocking on her door that much later with his cane.]

[acaseofyou]

Getting free stuff is always a bonus, even if you don't get high.

Don't imagine you being complicated would ever be much of a problem for me.

[ Which is true enough. She's dealt with plenty of complexities on top of having a pretty complicated situation herself. But when he knocks she just calls in the direction of the door. ]

It's open!

[ Not just unlocked, but not fully latched. He could push or kick it open with a gentle nudge if his hands are full. ]

[noreasonneeded]

[At her allowance he nudges his way inside, a hip bump closing the door behind him. The clothing is light in his hands but it's neatly folded, as are all his other clothing if they're not hung up in an equally tidy order. Kaz's office and bedroom, out of all the Slat, he keeps extremely organized and clean for his own peace of mind.

After a moment of glancing around, he places it on her bed in a pile. After a moment's hesitation, an internal debate, he moves over to her and reaches a hand out to gently touch her cheek in greeting. He does his usual bracing of himself, an intake of breath and firm stance, but he's trying to improve his capacity for touch with little gestures. It's just a grazing of the back of his hand against her face if she allows it.]

Busy night?

[acaseofyou]

[ She's standing by the record player, rifling through a stack so she can put something on. Not so absorbed in the task, though, that she doesn't watch Kaz move through the space out of the corner of her eye.

More than just allow it, when Kaz brushes his hand against her cheek she leans into it for a brief moment, eyes closed and humming a little at the back of her throat. Pleased, grateful. The steps they make on this front might be small, but each one is enjoyable beyond just the show of progress. ]

Not too bad. Might've been worse if there'd been a bar fight I'd have to have been in. Or if the mechanical bull worked.

[noreasonneeded]

[Her reaction eases him a little, seeing her alive and welcoming his touch.]

It's been awhile since I've been in a bar fight. Not that I want any to happen at the club.

[He does still get into scuffles and fights on the heists he orchestrates, but his days of street fighting are far less than they once had been. It's a very good thing on one hand, but he won't pretend he's beyond the simplicity of those sorts of battles when they happened.

Moving to her bed, he sits on the end of it just to take off his shoes.]

I will say as a marketing gimmick for those sorts of places, the mechanical bull was a good idea.

[acaseofyou]

[ If she ever has a time where she doesn't welcome his touch, however brief or be-gloved, Kaz would have every right to question if she's been bodysnatched. ]

No, I figure those are bad for business when they're at your business. If you're missing it, we can always go to someone else's club.

[ Joking, for the most part. Birdie isn't much for participating in bar fights, but she'd be very good at starting them if so inclined. Meanwhile, as he kicks off his shoes she turns to put on a record. It's something older, leaning more blues than folk, with the volume down low. ]

Those things are definitely a draw for thrill seekers not willing to get near an actual bull but totally fine with embarrassing themselves in public. Like karaoke but more tossing.

[noreasonneeded]

[He notes the song she puts on to play, the quiet background blues song filling the air. Songs are not chosen without purpose, in Birdie's case. She often imbues music with more meaning than he ever thinks to do.

Shoes off, he begins to shrug out of his jacket and vest. He's not a very modest man, except for revealing his hands. Barring Birdie being upset by it, he's not bothered to change in her bedroom. Like his shoes being lined up, he neatly folds his clothing as he then sets it aside in a pile.]

I can't imagine not thinking about how I'm coming off in public. Though I know plenty who you're right, don't mind embarrassing themselves and would find falling off a bull a good time. Or doing karaoke no matter how they sounded.

What song is this?