[He's waking up as he receives this, late in the morning after a bar shift last night, groaning as he moves on his makeshift floor-bed. His muscles have been quite sore from corruption, which is made worse by sleeping on the hard floor. His bed is too small, so this is what it is. Slowly, he pushes himself up to sitting, scrubbing his face. He's at least not hungover- a few people have given him a wake-up call about his drinking and he's been trying to do better.
He didn't expect to hear from Mel like this. He'd honestly thought she gave him her contact information just as a platitude because he was down when they met, or maybe just as one of those things politicians do for networking. Never know when a connection might come in handy, et cetera. He didn't think she'd call just to check in- and so he gets the feeling this might be more than a check-in, anyway.
His voice is still thick and gruff with sleep when he answers.]
Oh. Mel. [He clears his throat.] Yeah, I can talk. I'm... Still kicking, at least. How're you?
Oh, forgive me. It wasn't my intention to wake you.
[ She hadn't realized he might've been sleeping in or catching up on rest. ]
Things are as well as one can expect in a place like this. [ Not bad, not good. ] But I imagine that's par for the course.
I wanted to know if you had some time this week to meet briefly. There are a few things I'd like to speak about. [ More that she wants to check in but, hey, there's plenty to talk about too. ] Do any days or times this week work best for you?
[ She sends him a file that's just a pinpoint on a map in Karteria, specifically in the East Sophia district. It's outside of a small grocer that carries tea and coffee, but it's not a 'coffee shop' technically. Just a place to buy goods, but it's a pretty well known street. ]
[Don't mind him, shutting off the recording to poke at the device with too-big, clawed fingers. He grumbles to himself about it. Oh- that place. Why didn't she just tell him the name? Anyway, after a couple minutes he manages to get back to the voice recording.]
Sure. See you then.
[And he shows up, on time, out front of that shop. It's convenient, since he works in this area anyway. He looks tired, and it's possible he's even bigger than he was the last time she saw him, and more wolfy. Some grey fur lines his face, tufting in his beard and hairline, and spreading down his arms. His fingertips each have band-aids around them, where his nailbeds have cracked due to claws sprouting.]
[ She's already there, actually, but is engaged in a discussion with the shopkeeper about...coffee brands and flavors, of all things. It's not a particularly riveting conversation but Mel is doing almost none of the talking, simply listening and taking note of the stock. When she sees Vander outside, she offers a faint smile that is more polite than warm, and then heads out to greet him. ]
I appreciate you meeting with me.
[ He looks...almost as if he's aged since she's seen him, more grey, but she doesn't notice until she's a bit closer that he even seems a bit taller. And the grey isn't from his beard, necessarily, but fur. ]
Do you want to take a look at any of the wares? Or would you prefer to walk?
[He wonders what she's talking to the shopkeep about, and wonders again why she wanted to meet with him, especially as she's being so formal. Professional. It puts him a bit on edge, honestly. Are they not just two people from the same world who can speak casually with each other? What does she do in this place, exactly, now that she isn't a Councillor in Piltover? And what does he have to do with it?
He shrugs. He doesn't have much interest in the wares.]
May'sle walk.
[He picks a direction at random and starts walking, slowly. It might better be described as lumbering.]
What's this about, then? Do you have some sort of news?
[ Mel follows him, though there's a moment's pause where she realizes she's...probably given the wrong impression now, and she frowns. ]
Part of this was to check in on you, frankly.
[ And to just be out, because she knows it's easier for her to continue to hide behind texts and a device and keep things at a distance, but she wants to try to be more personable. ]
I do have information to catch you up on, certainly, but most of this was just to see you. It's been some weeks and we left things off in a way that I wanted to ensure you were doing all right.
[ She doesn't want to say acclimating because this place is horrible, and no one should need to get used to anything here. And yet. ]
I apologize, I've...possibly come across too seriously.
[ The passage of time here has definitely been intentional. Hugo had looked up Vander’s username the day after they had met, and he’d just sat with that knowledge since. Not without minor internal conflict, mind you, because on one hand, Hugo is inclined to just “hit it and quit it”, as it were. One evening of a little fun doesn’t mean all that much to him.
…But on the other hand, that’s the kind of impulse that he always tried to be better about. He knew it wasn’t a good thing to do, and it was part of his personality that he wasn’t exactly proud of.
Yet. Even so. He’d still waited until now. It was a thought that became less of an idle one after dying. He won’t think too hard about why that might be. ]
Hello Vander~
This is Hugo. Hopefully you remember me?
[ That’s a joke. He thinks it was pretty memorable, no matter what. ]
My apologies for not reaching out sooner. Let’s just call it a mix of mild embarrassment and being busy. I hope I haven’t caught you at a bad time?
No, I... I should've reached out too. Sorry, I'm not the best with these devices, more of an in-person kind of guy. But you're welcome by the bar any time- I work at Cherry's.
Not a bad time. You've nothing to be embarrassed for. Anything I can do for you?
[Part of him hopes the embarrassment isn't some kind of regret for what they did. But if it was that, he wouldn't be reaching out, he tells himself.]
Please, don't worry about it! Actually, I feel a bit better knowing that I hadn't left you hanging, so to speak. I might be a tad impulsive, but I wouldn't want to be thought of as a scoundrel~
[ Says the thief, but. That's a joke for himself... ]
Reaching out was really just to say hello and that we didn't have to be strangers, but you've brought up a better idea for that. I believe I know Cherry's, though I've only passed by it rather than partaking.
If you're not opposed, I'll drop by to grab a drink sometime soon. Have a less charged chat, as it were.
And of course, if you're not interested, you need only say the word. I won't take offense, I assure you.
I'm glad to hear it. Both that you're up for chatting and the positive review of past performance~.
I'll stop by sometime this week after my own work, then! Probably sooner rather than later, but I'll also admit that it depends on how much time I have to spend cataloguing stock that day.
In any case! See you then, Vander.
—
And indeed, the following Thursday, Hugo makes a point to head to Cherry’s after he’s finished his work at the antique shop. It feels like the best day of the options, since Friday and Saturday would be busier, and Tuesday afternoons… Well. His excuse would be that he was working, but in reality, he just finds the daytime nearly unbearable nowadays. Stopping by in an evening shift means he’ll be in a better mood.
Immediately, Hugo stands out, because much like the last time they’d met, he’s stylishly dressed. It’s a crisp and tailored Karterian suit in a dark, rich plum color, and with a hat, umbrella, and metallic briefcase, he gives off the immediate impression of someone fashionable, to be sure, but also maybe out of place here. Naturally, Hugo doesn’t seem to care about this at all. He simply smiles once he looks around and sees Vander and approaches the bar as if this were his regular haunt.
“Hello there. Glad to see I caught you on a shift,” he says as a cheery as he approaches. His accessories are smoothly taken off before he sits—umbrella on the arm of the chair, his jacket over it, and his hat set down neatly on the bar. The briefcase stays in his lap, interestingly.
“And luckily, there was a plethora of new stock to catalogue today. It’s a perfect day to chat and drink away the dull malaise of paperwork.”
Vander looks up when Hugo walks in, and just as soon as his eyes fall on Hugo, they shift to the other patrons to watch their reaction to the newcomer. Monitoring the vibe and social dynamics of the bar is something that's become automatic and second nature over his years of owning one. He may seem casual, but he knows exactly what's taking place in his bar at all times, and has a sense for when things are going to be shaken up well before it happens. However, in this case, his gaze is also protective. Willing the other patrons not to try anything funny. A sharply dressed man with a shiny briefcase in a seedier bar like this can be a target. Like Councillor Jayce, Golden Boy stepping into The Last Drop with not a hair out of place.
Hugo definitely grabs their attention, but aside from one or two confused or unimpressed looks, there isn't a stir at his arrival. Good.
Vander's assessment is not made obvious. As Hugo approaches the bar, his facial expression and body language is easy and casual, a small smile showing fang-tips.
"You caught me. Welcome. What'll it be for you?" He tosses a shaker cup in the air and it flips a few times before he catches it. Is he showing off, or does he just do that all the time? Hard to say (both).
It might seem like Hugo is perhaps a little ignorant by the contrast of his styling to the bar’s, but as their earlier (albeit brief) conversation had implied, that’s not the case. He knows places like this, and maybe they wouldn’t be his first choice, but he’s hardly uncomfortable in them. Hugo is perfectly confident and at ease as he becomes the center of attention. He doesn’t even seem to notice it, really, since it’s a phenomenon he’s well used to.
Besides. Of no offense to the rest of the patrons, but Hugo’s attention is more focused on Vander anyways. He assumes it’s mutual attention, considering the dramatic flair, but he’s charmed all the same.
“Well, I was thinking another Old Fashioned, but with that kind of flair, well. A whiskey sour instead? Or anything you feel like showing off with sounds delightful, honestly,” he says with a warm laugh, though it fades as he gets to his more practical explanation. “I work at an antique shop. So, really, it’s not so bad. It’s just when there’s new stock that it’s the tedium of cataloguing, appraising, and et cetera, which is a bit dull. Slow as well, since it’s not like I can rely on my knowledge from home. A fine piece to me is sometimes just junk here.”
Luckily, he has something to demonstrate, though that’s more coincidence. He reaches back into the pocket of his jacket to produce a showy trinket which he sets on the bar. It might look like another to-showy display of something like wealth, but a closer look will show that the gold is just plated on, and cheaply at that.
“Though, it does mean that I can grab fun little trinkets cheaply. This one caught my eye today. I don’t smoke, but I also couldn’t resist such an unusual lighter.”
Striding in with confidence is the thing to do, so no one sees you as a target. Hugo's attitude is that he fits right in here, which seems to fool the others.
Vander chuckles warmly in return, a little sheepish for being called out on showing off. "Righto," he agrees, and gets to work. His movements are incredibly practiced and automatic as he listens to Hugo. Into the shaker: bourbon, lemon juice, syrup. He's never historically had much access to egg whites, and Karteria's food shortage makes that difficult as well, so he substitutes a little aquafaba from a can of beans to get the frothiness.
He stops to pick up the trinket and examine it. It's neat, and a nostalgic smile crosses his face. "It's a lighter?" Vander smokes, but he doesn't say so- doesn't want to make it seem like he's trying to steal it.
"My friend Benzo has a-- had a shop like that," his smile dampens a little as he switches to the past tense. "Well, callin' it an antique shop would be generous. It was more like a pawn shop. Still, he'd have stuff like this." His smile returns as he sets it back on the counter and starts to shake the cocktail.
I have a personal project involving considerable physical labor that, quite frankly, I'm ill-suited for. Are you interested in the work? It would be paid, of course.
[Vander blinks in surprise at this message. Hubert isn't one to mince words, he knows this, but he hadn't heard from him in a bit, so it takes him off-guard for a moment.]
Oh, hi Hubert.
Physical labour's been good for me lately, so I might be. What's the project?
[He isn't the man for small talk, that's for sure. It didn't help Hubert felt rather sensitive about this project and overcompensated deep into professionalism.]
Good. I need to move significant quantities of sand from the beach into a residential area. Even with the aid of a cart, I am forced to admit there is no way I can accomplish this in a timely manner on my own.
Splendid. Send me your availability and I will conform mine to it, day or night. I will send you the numis promptly when we're done.
The occupants of the rowhouse I currently reside in. [Technically not a lie since he is an occupant, but only just technically.]
[There's a pause between messages as Hubert begrudgingly comes to the conclusion this is just going to invite more questions.]
One of the ground floor rooms is being cordoned off as a sort of 'natural' area, to help appease our other souls both within the barrier and in case of foul weather. [Read: his.]
[Hubert definitely wants a sandbox for scorpion reasons.]
However long it will take us to move approximately 48 cubic feet of sand. You were of considerable strength before, and if this realm has done nothing to take away from that, I expect this to be on the quicker side.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
voicemail. (idk, mid-late month?)
Date: 2025-06-20 02:20 am (UTC)[ What a way to start a voicemail. She's not good at this cold-calling thing. ]
When you've a moment, let me know.
voice
Date: 2025-06-20 08:50 pm (UTC)He didn't expect to hear from Mel like this. He'd honestly thought she gave him her contact information just as a platitude because he was down when they met, or maybe just as one of those things politicians do for networking. Never know when a connection might come in handy, et cetera. He didn't think she'd call just to check in- and so he gets the feeling this might be more than a check-in, anyway.
His voice is still thick and gruff with sleep when he answers.]
Oh. Mel. [He clears his throat.] Yeah, I can talk. I'm... Still kicking, at least. How're you?
no subject
Date: 2025-06-21 03:52 pm (UTC)[ She hadn't realized he might've been sleeping in or catching up on rest. ]
Things are as well as one can expect in a place like this. [ Not bad, not good. ] But I imagine that's par for the course.
I wanted to know if you had some time this week to meet briefly. There are a few things I'd like to speak about. [ More that she wants to check in but, hey, there's plenty to talk about too. ] Do any days or times this week work best for you?
no subject
Date: 2025-06-21 06:57 pm (UTC)[He makes a strong hum of agreement. As well as one can expect, yep, that sums it up.
She's so formal that he wonders if she has some sort of proposal for him. Not that he can think of much he'd be of use to her for.]
Sure. I work a few nights but I'm always free in the afternoons. Just say where and when.
no subject
Date: 2025-06-21 11:14 pm (UTC)[ She sends him a file that's just a pinpoint on a map in Karteria, specifically in the East Sophia district. It's outside of a small grocer that carries tea and coffee, but it's not a 'coffee shop' technically. Just a place to buy goods, but it's a pretty well known street. ]
About two?
-> action
Date: 2025-06-22 12:37 am (UTC)Sure. See you then.
[And he shows up, on time, out front of that shop. It's convenient, since he works in this area anyway. He looks tired, and it's possible he's even bigger than he was the last time she saw him, and more wolfy. Some grey fur lines his face, tufting in his beard and hairline, and spreading down his arms. His fingertips each have band-aids around them, where his nailbeds have cracked due to claws sprouting.]
no subject
Date: 2025-06-24 10:43 pm (UTC)I appreciate you meeting with me.
[ He looks...almost as if he's aged since she's seen him, more grey, but she doesn't notice until she's a bit closer that he even seems a bit taller. And the grey isn't from his beard, necessarily, but fur. ]
Do you want to take a look at any of the wares? Or would you prefer to walk?
no subject
Date: 2025-06-25 04:15 am (UTC)He shrugs. He doesn't have much interest in the wares.]
May'sle walk.
[He picks a direction at random and starts walking, slowly. It might better be described as lumbering.]
What's this about, then? Do you have some sort of news?
no subject
Date: 2025-06-25 01:55 pm (UTC)Part of this was to check in on you, frankly.
[ And to just be out, because she knows it's easier for her to continue to hide behind texts and a device and keep things at a distance, but she wants to try to be more personable. ]
I do have information to catch you up on, certainly, but most of this was just to see you. It's been some weeks and we left things off in a way that I wanted to ensure you were doing all right.
[ She doesn't want to say acclimating because this place is horrible, and no one should need to get used to anything here. And yet. ]
I apologize, I've...possibly come across too seriously.
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From:@ mockingbird
Date: 2025-08-21 09:32 pm (UTC)…But on the other hand, that’s the kind of impulse that he always tried to be better about. He knew it wasn’t a good thing to do, and it was part of his personality that he wasn’t exactly proud of.
Yet. Even so. He’d still waited until now. It was a thought that became less of an idle one after dying. He won’t think too hard about why that might be. ]
Hello Vander~
This is Hugo. Hopefully you remember me?
[ That’s a joke. He thinks it was pretty memorable, no matter what. ]
My apologies for not reaching out sooner. Let’s just call it a mix of mild embarrassment and being busy. I hope I haven’t caught you at a bad time?
@ thehound
Date: 2025-08-22 12:09 am (UTC)No, I... I should've reached out too. Sorry, I'm not the best with these devices, more of an in-person kind of guy. But you're welcome by the bar any time- I work at Cherry's.
Not a bad time. You've nothing to be embarrassed for. Anything I can do for you?
[Part of him hopes the embarrassment isn't some kind of regret for what they did. But if it was that, he wouldn't be reaching out, he tells himself.]
no subject
Date: 2025-08-22 01:42 am (UTC)[ Says the thief, but. That's a joke for himself... ]
Reaching out was really just to say hello and that we didn't have to be strangers, but you've brought up a better idea for that. I believe I know Cherry's, though I've only passed by it rather than partaking.
If you're not opposed, I'll drop by to grab a drink sometime soon. Have a less charged chat, as it were.
And of course, if you're not interested, you need only say the word. I won't take offense, I assure you.
no subject
Date: 2025-08-22 04:41 pm (UTC)I'm always up for a chat. Especially at work- it passes the time.
Generally I work nights, Thursday to Saturday. Sometimes I open on Tuesday afternoons
→ 🎬
Date: 2025-08-22 05:41 pm (UTC)I'll stop by sometime this week after my own work, then! Probably sooner rather than later, but I'll also admit that it depends on how much time I have to spend cataloguing stock that day.
In any case! See you then, Vander.
—
And indeed, the following Thursday, Hugo makes a point to head to Cherry’s after he’s finished his work at the antique shop. It feels like the best day of the options, since Friday and Saturday would be busier, and Tuesday afternoons… Well. His excuse would be that he was working, but in reality, he just finds the daytime nearly unbearable nowadays. Stopping by in an evening shift means he’ll be in a better mood.
Immediately, Hugo stands out, because much like the last time they’d met, he’s stylishly dressed. It’s a crisp and tailored Karterian suit in a dark, rich plum color, and with a hat, umbrella, and metallic briefcase, he gives off the immediate impression of someone fashionable, to be sure, but also maybe out of place here. Naturally, Hugo doesn’t seem to care about this at all. He simply smiles once he looks around and sees Vander and approaches the bar as if this were his regular haunt.
“Hello there. Glad to see I caught you on a shift,” he says as a cheery as he approaches. His accessories are smoothly taken off before he sits—umbrella on the arm of the chair, his jacket over it, and his hat set down neatly on the bar. The briefcase stays in his lap, interestingly.
“And luckily, there was a plethora of new stock to catalogue today. It’s a perfect day to chat and drink away the dull malaise of paperwork.”
no subject
Date: 2025-08-25 01:35 am (UTC)Hugo definitely grabs their attention, but aside from one or two confused or unimpressed looks, there isn't a stir at his arrival. Good.
Vander's assessment is not made obvious. As Hugo approaches the bar, his facial expression and body language is easy and casual, a small smile showing fang-tips.
"You caught me. Welcome. What'll it be for you?" He tosses a shaker cup in the air and it flips a few times before he catches it. Is he showing off, or does he just do that all the time? Hard to say (both).
"Sounds riveting. Where d'you work, anyway?"
no subject
Date: 2025-08-25 03:43 pm (UTC)Besides. Of no offense to the rest of the patrons, but Hugo’s attention is more focused on Vander anyways. He assumes it’s mutual attention, considering the dramatic flair, but he’s charmed all the same.
“Well, I was thinking another Old Fashioned, but with that kind of flair, well. A whiskey sour instead? Or anything you feel like showing off with sounds delightful, honestly,” he says with a warm laugh, though it fades as he gets to his more practical explanation. “I work at an antique shop. So, really, it’s not so bad. It’s just when there’s new stock that it’s the tedium of cataloguing, appraising, and et cetera, which is a bit dull. Slow as well, since it’s not like I can rely on my knowledge from home. A fine piece to me is sometimes just junk here.”
Luckily, he has something to demonstrate, though that’s more coincidence. He reaches back into the pocket of his jacket to produce a showy trinket which he sets on the bar. It might look like another to-showy display of something like wealth, but a closer look will show that the gold is just plated on, and cheaply at that.
“Though, it does mean that I can grab fun little trinkets cheaply. This one caught my eye today. I don’t smoke, but I also couldn’t resist such an unusual lighter.”
no subject
Date: 2025-08-25 04:12 pm (UTC)Vander chuckles warmly in return, a little sheepish for being called out on showing off. "Righto," he agrees, and gets to work. His movements are incredibly practiced and automatic as he listens to Hugo. Into the shaker: bourbon, lemon juice, syrup. He's never historically had much access to egg whites, and Karteria's food shortage makes that difficult as well, so he substitutes a little aquafaba from a can of beans to get the frothiness.
He stops to pick up the trinket and examine it. It's neat, and a nostalgic smile crosses his face. "It's a lighter?" Vander smokes, but he doesn't say so- doesn't want to make it seem like he's trying to steal it.
"My friend Benzo has a-- had a shop like that," his smile dampens a little as he switches to the past tense. "Well, callin' it an antique shop would be generous. It was more like a pawn shop. Still, he'd have stuff like this." His smile returns as he sets it back on the counter and starts to shake the cocktail.
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Date: 2025-09-02 11:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-09-03 12:19 am (UTC)Oh, hi Hubert.
Physical labour's been good for me lately, so I might be. What's the project?
no subject
Date: 2025-09-04 02:43 am (UTC)Good. I need to move significant quantities of sand from the beach into a residential area. Even with the aid of a cart, I am forced to admit there is no way I can accomplish this in a timely manner on my own.
Are you amenable to this?
[Don't ask why don't ask why don't ask why]
no subject
Date: 2025-09-04 03:03 am (UTC)Uhhh. Sure, I could help. Who... Wants sand in their residential area?
[Isn't that kind of the last place you want sand?]
no subject
Date: 2025-09-04 03:13 am (UTC)Splendid. Send me your availability and I will conform mine to it, day or night. I will send you the numis promptly when we're done.
The occupants of the rowhouse I currently reside in. [Technically not a lie since he is an occupant, but only just technically.]
[There's a pause between messages as Hubert begrudgingly comes to the conclusion this is just going to invite more questions.]
One of the ground floor rooms is being cordoned off as a sort of 'natural' area, to help appease our other souls both within the barrier and in case of foul weather. [Read: his.]
no subject
Date: 2025-09-04 04:47 am (UTC)Right, gotcha. How long do you think it'll take? I'm pretty busy these days but I can make time.
no subject
Date: 2025-09-04 06:31 pm (UTC)However long it will take us to move approximately 48 cubic feet of sand. You were of considerable strength before, and if this realm has done nothing to take away from that, I expect this to be on the quicker side.
no subject
Date: 2025-09-04 08:14 pm (UTC)So I figure I could pull a good amount in your cart. Shouldn't take more than a couple of days.
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