pushtheboundaries | IC INBOX; MoM

I can see you as a troublemaker when you were younger, but I have to say, my stint was nothing but one bad decision after another.

But then, everyone thinks they're doing the right thing at the time.

That's a very generous opinion.

[ She crunches an ice cube between her teeth, sucks on the pieces. ]

Nah, not everyone. Not even close. There are plenty of people who are cruel just to see what happens.

[ Taps the glass on the bar, frowning. That wasn't ... very encouraging. ]

Sorry, that sounds more cynical than I meant.

I haven't met many of them, but I don't doubt you. Most of the ones I know...

[he pushes his drink away from him. his empty drink, mind. is he asking for a refill? maaaaybe.]

It's just- we got so damn consumed with ourselves, we get so selfish, and then before anyone knows it things have gone wrong and how the hell did it happen?

[ Uncomfortable memories bubble up inside her and she breathes out heavily. She swallows the rest of her drink and signals for another round. ]

I know.

[ She doesn't know what else to say, but it feels unfinished to cut off there so she nudges his leg with her knee.

Her glass is empty almost as soon as it's refilled.]

[his isn't emptied, but he does take a good swallow. god, it burns, and he- he can't help but rest his forehead against the cool glass, grimacing in a bitter smile]

The best part- that whole 'road to hell' thing, 'paved with good intentions'?

What does it say about someone who even after the fact, knows they were in the right, even understanding that they did wrong?

It means ...

[ She lets it hang because what does it mean? Probably to do it better next time. She sighs. ]

Not that my opinion means anything, but ...

[ Puts her hand over his. ]

I do believe in second chances.

So people say.

[he pulls his hand back, resting it palm-up on the counter and looking at it. his other is still at his forehead, elbow on the counter - he's propping himself up, and doesn't look like he's about to fall over, but the scotch seems to have started to have its effect.]

People change their minds.

[and he closes that hand]

Hff.

[ She's just--! Just gonna lean on him! So there!! ]

[god damn it lady he's feeling sorry for himself will you just

he sighs and reaches up to pat her on the shoulder]

Guess I'm a piece of work even when tipsy, huh?

Edited 2015-06-19 03:22 (UTC)

Some people change their minds, Rob. Not everyone.

[ She is cuddling him in public and he is just going to have to deal with that. ]

Whatever happened, I guarantee I've forgiven worse.

[ Hell, probably done worse too. Okay, almost definitely done worse. ]

[he's going to deal with that and what few looks are being shot their way. fellow grey-hairs wish their ladyfriends looked this good.]

Please tell me you're not secretly a priest.

[ Okay, she laughs. ]

Psychologist. Once upon a time.

You-? Well, I- [and he laughs a bit, himself, shaking his head] I'd have never thought...that's what I get, I guess.

So, tell me, 'doc'... [and he tilts his glass towards her] ...does this sound like the rambling of a crazy person? Because between you and me, sometimes I wonder.

Surpriiiise! [ Jazz hands! ] Don't worry, I'm not billing you for this appointment.

It sounds like the rambling of a man with a lot of Scotch in him.

You have only yourself to blame for that. I suggested something draft.

Yes, and it was a terrible suggestion which I was right to ignore.

[ More Scotch? Mooooore Scotch! ]

Honestly, if you're worried about sounding crazy, you probably aren't. Now, if you find yourself, like ... Raising your fists to the heavens as lightning flashes in the background, screaming about how you'll show them, you'll show them all, while a bug-eyed hunchback calls you "master"

Then, yeah, maybe worry a little.

[fffffft. oh no that's an amused sound. you're entertaining him now, Harley, how awful of you]

I was never one for that kind of construct, though- when I was a kid, I managed to piece together a machine out of five appliances. Does that count?

[ Yesss, she's winning. ]

Depends. On a scale of one to ten, how much rampaging did it do? Also, how pissed was your ma?

Pro-ba-bly...about a seven, but not for lack of trying. But by then people knew about me, and everyone joined in taking it down. Mom was more resigned than anything, Dad just told me next time I tried to take over the base, I should at least put some effort in to it.

[ She actually spit takes and doubles over laughing. ]

[yep, he'll just take another swig of scotch, grinning. good times, not that he'd really intended to take over anything- he was just playing around.]

The thing was, it didn't have any sort of AI- it was just- going on, you know? Robots only do what they're programmed, and if they don't have that, they just do what they're built- so here's this thing, fully powered, and the only outlet for that power is to try and activate everything at once continually, and-

-and I had to clean the bathrooms for a month.

Oh my god!

[ Look out, she's laughing so hard she's sliding off the barstool. You've killed her, Robert! ]

[oh no! better grab on to her to keep her from falling over, that would be awful. the fact that the easiest way to do it is to move his arm around her waist is just happenstance]

Careful-! I don't want to have to have an ambulance ride because you fell over and knocked your head.

[ Well! That wasn't her plan but she'll take advantage and press against his side, leaning her head on his shoulder. 'Sup. How you doin'? ]

Oh please, don't be so dramatic. I'm not nearly as fragile as that.

[unluckily for Harley, once he's sure she's stable, he'll be letting go.]

I'm allowed to worry. Alcohol does things to you. There's no way I'm going home except in a cab at this point.

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