Hot Summer Days and Karaoke Nights

[deal_me_in]

WHO: Cayde-6 probably and you
WHERE: The Deep End
WHAT: Absolutely nothing
WHEN: Through this month
WARNINGS: N/A


I. BYOB

Things have been slow and quiet, both things of which Cayde never trusts, especially around a place like this. Naturally it leaves a Hunter bored, but when there's nothing to be found or done around the city and even less beyond, it's almost enough to make him desperate to do even paperwork.

Almost. He's not that desperate.

At least the temperatures don't bother him, but he knows the heat makes things miserable for a lot of people. The lights are always low in the bar, the water out the window at least keeping it from being too warm since the light's got a whole lot of gallons to filter through.

Cayde doesn't spend too much time behind the bar counter, so it'd be easy to think the bar's empty as it more often than not is. The Exo himself has parked himself at the table nearest the bar however, over by the window. Sometimes he'll be shuffling cards, or he'll be balancing them in a precarious cardhouse with Colonel settled in the opposite chair if she's not roaming the bar floor for inspections.

He looks up when he does find himself with company other than a chicken, flashing a grin. "Hey, you busy?" This may not be the Tower but he's not beyond handing out a quest or two if someone's just as bored as he is. Although it probably isn't much of a quest so much as it is an errand.


II. Music Makes the People Come Together. Yeah.

There's an off chance one might come across the Hunter in the opposite corner of the bar, feet propped up on a chair as he idly strums the guitar Tony had made him what seems like ages ago. It's been more of a communal sort of instrument by now. Cayde's at least managed to learn a few chords enough to play a song or two, which is enough for him to add to the subtle western vibe he tries to evoke now and then.

He's better with a harmonica, although it's anyone's guess as to where he gets the breath for it, much less manages a tune with no lips.

"Oh, didn't know I had an audience. What's with the face?" He smiles crookedly. "Thing's all set if you have something else in mind," he says, nodding towards the karaoke machine.

Comments

BYOB

[thelastechidna]

Knuckles is just aimlessly wandering around and happens to enter The Deep End rather by accident, liking the cooler temperatures. He's technically a minor anyway, even though he acts more like he's in his 20s, but having been sheltered for much of his life, he doesn't even realize quite what he walked into.

He blinks in surprise at the sudden question. "Huh? ... Well, no, I guess not...."

[deal_me_in]

Oh boy, a volunteer! Cayde however doesn't look up just yet as he finishes placing another card.

"Nice! Wait-" he hesitates, squinting over at the kid. "Oh. Never mind. You're probably not here for a hard drink, are you?"

[thelastechidna]

Knuckles flushes in embarrassment. "No.... That's what this is? I came in because it's cooler in here...."

[deal_me_in]

Cayde laughs. "Uh, yeah. See right there?" he points towards the bar counter. And then he points at the neon sign that he's rather proud of, with its bright colors of a spade hooked around the edge of a glass. So what if the writing wasn't one anyone except maybe one person in the city could read, he's still happy about the acquisition.

"Not that I'll kick anyone out for wanting to hide from the sun."

[thelastechidna]

Knuckles flushes, feeling foolish now. The sign is creative, though.

"... So, what was it you needed help with?" he wondered, mostly curious but also trying to make an effort to be social. Funny how without Sonic here, Knuckles is trying harder to actually integrate into the group. Maybe he's lonely for Sonic, even though the guy wasn't even the Sonic he knows back home. Or maybe he's actually trying to take some of Sonic's advice. Maybe both.

[deal_me_in]

"Eh, don't worry about it," the Exo says, waving a hand before picking up another pair of cards to balance. "No point in sending you out when you wanted to find some shade. I'll just wait for someone who actually wants a drink. Running low here and got some stock but it's in the ship."

[thelastechidna]

"Oh." He can't help thinking how fast Sonic could grab it.

"... How do you have any, anyway? I mean, do you make it yourself or do you get it from the replicator or the supplies thing?"

[deal_me_in]

Careful, careful. Cayde slowly lets go of the cards he's placed, pulling his hands back with a grin as they hold.

"Sure, got a still, but the most opportunity I have to restock is on those rare trips we get off-world."

[thelastechidna]

Knuckles looks at the cards with some curiosity. He always wonders how people do that.

This surprises him. "But hasn't that only happened a couple of times?" At least since he's been there.

[deal_me_in]

"Pretty much! Which is why I try to make the most of it. Helps that there aren't too many people around but I can only stock so much too," Cayde laughs. "...although when people get the idea to make molotov cocktails out of your good stuff then that really tends to put a dent in supply."

[thelastechidna]

"Yeah.... The ships look like they'd hold a lot, but there'd be the problems of loading the crates and then having room for them here," Knuckles says. "Do a lot of people take it for cocktails?"

[deal_me_in]

"Nah, space isn't the problem so much as funds," the Exo points out with a grin. He laughs again then.

"Thankfully not! Just the one time when them faceless critters were running around! At least I had the really good stuff stashed. Red juice does fine to light things up- I've got a whole load of molotov cocktails ready for emergencies but I guess that only works if other people know."

[thelastechidna]

Knuckles flushes. "Oh. Right." Money wasn't really something he had to worry about back home.

"Well, that's ... good then. Weren't you angry they were taking your stuff?"

[deal_me_in]

"Eh, annoyed, but I can't really be mad at someone taking initiative, 'specially if it's in the best interests of people's survival," Cayde shrugs, shuffling his remaining cards as he considers where to start the next build.

[thelastechidna]

"True, that's better than if they were taking it to sell or something," Knuckles says, thinking of Rouge the Bat with irritation.

He looks to the cards for a distraction. "... How do you get them to stand up like that?"

[deal_me_in]

The Exo chuckles at that. "Who'd they be selling it to?" Not like any of them had expenses that really did much of anything around here.

"Skill," he says, setting what's left the deck down so he can pick up another pair of cards.

[thelastechidna]

"Under normal circumstances, they might." Knuckles is sure it's only their weird situation and the Master Emerald being powered down that keeps people like Fang from trying to steal it.

"Well, yeah, that. It must take a lot of calculating to know just how to place them so they won't fall." Some of the traps he set up back home were like that.

[deal_me_in]

"Yeah, but things are hardly normal here," Cayde points out. "And who's got money or use for it around here anyway?"

He shrugs before lifting the cards. "More like chance."

[thelastechidna]

"Let's hope it stays that way while we're here."

Knuckles blinks at that. "You mean there's not really any secret to getting them to stand? It's just a gamble every time?"

[deal_me_in]

"Well, now that you've said it, things'll probably go completely haywire," Cayde jokes. He smirks, easing the cards into place.

"Life's a gamble, kid."

[thelastechidna]

Knuckles rolls his eyes a bit. "Those sound like things Sonic would say."

[deal_me_in]

The Exo laughs again. "Well, isn't it? Can't guarantee what hand your dealt each day, you just have to play it through. Sometimes there's risks to take, but sometimes they're worth it."

[thelastechidna]

"Yeah, I guess. Life used to be a lot less confusing and uncertain before I ever met Sonic and Eggman."

But it was also pretty routine and dull. And lonely.

[deal_me_in]

"Eh, that's usually how it goes. Things are all within expectation until suddenly they aren't. That's the real test. How you deal with it. Even if you fight for that normality, things'll never be the same. Or you could get swept up in the changes, for better or worse."

The card house falls abruptly, fluttering about the table and onto the floor.

"...like that."

He tosses the two cards he has left in his hands.

[thelastechidna]

Knuckles ponders that. "Things never have been the same," he agrees. "And I always get carted along on their problems. Or I did, before I ended up here."

He starts at the fall and then sighs. "Yeah."